I thought I would switch it up. I am doing this chapter in Altair's point of view. I want him to listen to her story, but I wanted to show more of his emotions and what he thought when he met Ezio for the first time. By the way, I may not get to post another chapter for a few days. Sorry! I start a new job in the morning and it is from 7am to 3 pm. I will only be able to work on this before work then some after. Hopefully this will tide y'all over until the next installment. It will not be long I swear.

I watched Alanna from my place in the small chair. She had not changed much in the many years she said she had lived. When she first came to the Brotherhood, she was a young woman with no family. She had an innocence to her then, but that was now gone. She stood before me, finally sure of herself and what she had become. I had not seen it right away, but many things had changed.

This new world was strange. Women flaunted their bodies in most unbecoming ways. The woman that had shown us our room had barely any clothes on at all. A tight dress that did not cover all of her chest and most of her legs were bare to the men. It was rather distracting, but I knew what she was. She acted like a woman of ill repute.

Alanna looked over at me. Her gray eyes were slightly sad. I knew her tale would be hard to hear. I barely believed her. I really did not want to believe her. My family or the ones that I knew were gone. I had been asleep for too many years.

"What will become of us?" The words left my mouth before I had time to think about them. It was something that I did want to know.

I heard a sigh escape her lips. She sat on the edge of the bed. "We will go on just like I have done for many years. It will be difficult for you in the beginning. I must learn some Italian. Some people here know English, but they are far and few between."

What she didn't know was I knew Italian. Al Mualim made sure to drill into my head many languages. I had to know my prey, and if I did not know their language, I would not be a good hunter. "I know Italian. I have known for many years. Along with some French and Latin."

That peaked her interest. She raised an eyebrow at me. "Why have you not told me before now?"

I shrugged. "It had not come up. I prefer to speak in my native tongue. That is what I most accustomed to." It was what I was comfortable with. I was not about to say that, and that was the only thing holding me to who I was, where I came from.

"Very well." She nodded. "Where would you like me to start?"

"Start from the beginning." I wanted to know it all. I had to know it all.

"I awoke a hundred years after the ambush. They had placed me in the vault reserved for heroes. I was not one of those. I had been just doing what I had to do. I was buried with all my weapons. My sword was rusted and beyond repair. My robes were dirty, and my hidden blade was not even functionable." I watched her tap the blade on the inside of her wrist. She was one of the first to get a blade that did not require the removal of her ring finger. It was a design I had seen from the Apple.

She looked down at the ground and began again. "I did not know how much time had passed, how I had been brought back from the dead. I knew I had died. I remember being ran through by the templar's sword, but my body was whole. I was lost. I made my way out of the tombs and into the light of the evening sun. Masyaf was not as I remembered it. It was larger, but the village was in disrepair. Some homes had already fallen down and others were caving in from the weight of their roofs.

"I knew I would stand out in my dirty robes. I stole a dress from an abandoned home, and began to search for answers to the questions that I had. I wanted to know what had happened to me. Why did I live?" She finally looked back at me. Her eyes were haunted. There was so much she had seen. I could not fathom what it would have been like if I was the first to awaken and not her. I would have probably done the same I guess. Unlike her though, I would not have thought about looking in on her. I barely remembered who she was when I had woken up this morning. I would never tell her that.

I thought about everything she had said to this point. I could not believe this was true. I thought I would wake up from the dream and be in my bed in Masyaf or in one of the Bureaus. I did not want this to be my new reality, but I knew it was. I had a feeling deep inside that when she first said something about being asleep for 250 years, that she was speaking the truth, but my mind did not want to hear it. Now, I could no longer deny the truth. I was here and there was not changing that.

"Continue." I urged her on. I wanted to know more.

She smiled slightly and began again. "I listened to the people. They were complaining about the Assassins leaving. How they had survived because of the Guild. I raced back to the fortress and saw with my own eyes what they said was true. Not a soul walked the halls of the once great castle. I wandered for a time and found myself looking at your tomb. I had wondered if the same had happened to you. I opened your tomb. That is when I found you. You had not aged. You were still the same.

"I placed my finger below your nose and felt the tiniest breath escape. You were alive." Standing, she walked around the room. "I left for a few moments and managed to get a horse into the tomb, and got you thrown over the saddle. I thought you would awaken shortly like I did, but I was wrong. I hid away for many years. I prayed to everyone I could for you to wake, but it did not happen. Then the raid of Monterigionni happened. That is when I put two and two together. A person that has touched the apple had to die for us to wake. With me, it was your youngest son. For you, it was Mario."

I let her story sink in. My son had touched the apple at some point. My family had been affected by the cursed thing. It was not something that sat well. I had the feeling she was not telling me everything, but what she had told would do for now.

She faced me. I could tell she wanted to say something, but held back. "You want to add more?"

Alanna shook her head. "No. Not at this time. I think it best we get some sleep. Rome awaits us in the morning." A yawn escaped her lips. "Good night Grand Master." She crawled into her bed and shut her eyes. A few moments later, I could tell she had fallen asleep.

I walked to the window. The sky had started to darken from the rain clouds rolling in. I rather enjoyed the rain. Being from a drier climate, it was a treat to feel the rain on skin. I turned to look at my new companion. She was deep asleep. I could not blame her. For too many years, she watched over me. Making sure I was safe. I do not think she got much sleep.

Silently slipping from the room, I left through the window, as to not run into the woman would clearly wanted nothing more than to sleep with me. The thought made me shutter. Climbing onto the roof and making my way across the other roofs, I wanted to see this new city alone. I had to clear my head.

I made my way to the stables. It was not hard to find. Follow the strong smell of manure, and the sound of the horses and you will find it. I saddled the roan, and lead him out of the stable.

"Going somewhere, Grand Master?"

I spun on my heels and looked at the woman would just spoke. Alanna stood there, a smirk on her lips. "I thought you were asleep. I did not want to wake you."

She shrugged. "I'm used to sleeping little. I guess you are going to investigate on your own." She said it as a statement and not a question.

Nodding, I swung into the saddle. "I need to see this new world on my own. I need to find out what I have missed."

"Then do not go unarmed. Rome is not the most welcoming place right now." She tossed a bag at me. "Good luck and I will find you later." With that, she turned and walked back to the inn.

I watched her for a moment. The woman was a mystery, but she knew I could handle whatever this new place threw at me. Opening the bag, I pulled out my old bracer with my hidden blade, and a small dagger. I placed it on my wrist and checked it. It slid in and out like it was new. She had taken good care of it over the years. At the bottom was a pouch of coins. I silently thanked her and took off.

The rains started as I walked my horse into the city. The moisture soaked my clothes, but I enjoyed it. It was a change from the dry air of Masyaf. I found a stable, and tied up my horse. He whined at me for a moment, but after I gave him a pat, he calmed down.

I made my way across the pathways and through the smaller parts of the city. Even at night, the city was a buzz with activity. Rome, or what I had seen so far, made even Jerusalem look small.

"Assassino!"

The shout brought me out of my thoughts. I took a defensive position until I realized they were saying to me, but to another man running down the lane, dressed in the robes similar to my own. I let the man run by, but pulled out my dagger as the four guards ran past. I would not stand by as a fellow assassin were being chased by guards.

I followed them. Four more joined the fray. I smirked. The assassin was reckless, but reminded me much of myself. As I rounded the corner, there were now more guards, and only one of him. Sighing, I ran into the fight, stabbing one guard in the back with the dagger and another in the neck with my blade. Hot blood ran down my hand as the liquid spilled from the wounds I had just inflicted on the men. They dropped and I moved on. One more fell before they realized I was there. Picking up an abandoned sword, I defended myself. The soldiers split into two groups, half taking on me and the other half took on the other man.

The fight got my blood flowing. I dodged, parried and drove the blade home when I found an opening. I had not done this in so long, I had nearly forgotten how I enjoyed the rush of combat. I dodged another attack and felled my last man, as did the other assassin.

"Grazie. They decided to try to end me. I guess they are not as smart as they look." The other man was an inch or two taller than him. Dark brown eyes smiled at him, and nearly black hair clung to the sides of his face from the rain.

"I could not stand by and let a fellow brother fall to their blades." I smirked at him. I was now glad I retained much of the Italian.

"Let us escape here and I will give you a proper introduction. As much as I like taking out these bastards, I do not want to do it again so soon. I am getting too old for this many at one time." The Italian smirked as well. "Come. I have a place we can properly meet."

He took off up the side of the nearest building. I followed in suite. For an older man, he moved swift and light. I followed him as he leaped over alleyways and crossed streets on wires. Finally, we came to his destination. We dropped to street level and walked through the front door. An older woman walked over and greeted him.

"I take it your mission was successful?" She smiled at the man.

"Si, it was. They will not bother the Rosa in Fiore any longer, Mother."

I watched the exchange from the doorway. I felt as I should not be here, but yet I stayed. I was curious, as I looked around, to see we were in a brothel. Why would his mother be running this place? It was all strange to say the least. Many things of this time confused me, but I just watched on.

"Mother, I would like you to meet a fellow assassin. He helped me with the guards." He beckoned me forward. I should have left. I should have not even come here, but yet, my feet carried me over to where they stood.

"You have my gratitude for helping my son. He has a problem with making the guards mad." She smiled up at me, making the lines around her eyes more noticeable.

I inclined my head. "You are welcome. I could not let a fellow brother get hurt." I was not as open about what I was as he is. Another thing that confounded me as to how open he was. I was taught that we did our work in the shadows, to hide ourselves in plain sight. This man was open.

"I have not introduced myself. I am Ezio Auditore, and you are?"

Alanna's words rang in my head now. The Auditores are your descents. "Someone you should forget about. Excuse me." I swiftly made it out the door. I could hear them call after me, but I did not stop. I had just met my descendant, and he too, was an assassin. Alanna had told me, but I did not realize that everyone after me had become one.

I walked through the streets, trying to find my way out of town. I had to get out of here. I could not tell them who I was. They would never believe it. I barely believed it. I was lost in thought so much I did not pay attention to the noise behind me. Ezio had followed me.

"You are a tough person to keep track of."

I turned and faced him. A frown was on his face as he looked at me. "I want to keep it that way. What do you want?"

"You are not from around here. I can tell from your accent. Who are you?" He watched me. I held my ground.

"Trust me when I say I am an assassin like you. That is all you need to know." I knew tell him would be a very bad move on my part. I should have never come here. I should have taken off for Masyaf. Seen my old home. I should have left well enough alone.

We stared each other down. Neither one of us moved. I grew weary of the game and turned to leave when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "You do not have to run. I just want to know who helped me take out the Borgia soldiers. I am here to liberate Rome from their rule."

I hung my head. "I am just a spectator in this place. I had no intentions of getting myself noticed, but I could not stop myself." I knew this was it. I knew I had to tell someone. Especially someone who had touched the apple. "Besides, if I told you who I was you would not believe me."

"I have seen and heard so strange things in my days." He laughed.

"Not like this you have not. I do not think you could handle this one." Against better judgment, I decided to tell him, but not here. I would bring someone he knew along. "I have to go meet my traveling companion. Meet me where you took me at noon. I will let you know then. To make one thing clear, I am tell you this not because I want to, because I have to."

He nodded slowly. "I hope you do not try anything. I will hate to kill someone who has helped me."

"I will not do anything to you or your family. Until tomorrow." I took off. Instead of clearing my head, I added more problems to it. This world is now too confusing.

I tried to keep them both in character, but I do not think I did a great job. It was kind of a rushed chapter. I wanted to give y'all something for right now. I have started on the next one. I am hoping to get it done before work tomorrow. If not, then I will finish it after work. See ya then.