Sorry it took so long! i had to prepare for finals . But school's over in two days! ^0^ i found this ch. quite hard to write actually... i don't know why. I guess I just wasn't in the right mind-frame?

Disclaimer: I do not own Assassin's Creed. The masterminds are Ubisoft.


Ch. 7

"Ehi! Ezio!" a small voice called. I threw Ezio's arm to the side, who walked up to the owner of the voice.

"What are you doing out here, Petruccio? You should be in bed," Ezio said to a small boy. 'Ohhhh so that's the youngest!'

Petruccio pointed upwards, to the roofs. "I want those feathers!" I raised a questioning brow. What would he want with feathers? Well, I guess everyone likes to collect something, right?

As if his brain was on the same wavelength as mine, Ezio asked, "What for?"

Petruccio smiled. "It's a secret!"

"If I get them for you, will you go back inside?"

"Yes I promise."

I turned to Ezio, "I'll be with your mother if you need me," I told him.

He nodded. "Va bene." And with that, he shot up the roof.

Petruccio stopped me before I could enter the courtyard. "You're Melina, sì?" I nodded. "Piaceri di conoscerla!" he chirped.

I giggled, ruffling his hair. "Piaceri di conoscerla, Petruccio." I strolled into the courtyard. Stopping when I saw Federico standing by his mother.

"Buongiorno, Federico!" I called.

He turned eagerly to me. "Buon pomeriggio, Melina!" He started to walk up to me, but stopped in his tracks when Giovani called him. "Duty calls. Mi dispiace, mia cara." Then, he disappeared into his home.

By the time Federico left, Ezio had sauntered up beside me. "Back," he mumbled. I , again, jumped out of my skin… I didn't know he was there.

"Geeze! Would you stop that?"

"Mi dispiace, but you're awfully cute when you're scared."

I smacked his arm. "Flirt," I muttered.

Ezio laughed under his breath, continuing to his mother.

Maria turned around. "Buongiorno, Ezio."

"Buongiorno a voi, madre. Come stai?"

"Sto bene, and you?" she chirped. Ezio shrugged. "Still recovering from last night, right?" I snorted, trying to contain a laugh.

Ezio made an exasperated face. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he lied.

"Of course not. Anyway, I have an errand to run. I'd like you to join me. Melina, you too." She began to walk off, waving us along with her.

"Con piacere," Ezio said. I nodded, following eagerly after Maria.

"Come, it's not far from here," she explained as she walked off.

As we walked, Maria's voice became low, motherly. "I know about your fight with Vieri." I thought vaguely back to the bridge, where I first saw Ezio and Federico. I pretended to play dumb and kept quiet, though. I didn't want Ezio to know I watched the whole thing.

Ezio, apparently, wanted to play dumb too. "What fight?" he asked in one of the most suspicious voices I've ever heard.

"Per piacere (please), let's not play this game," Maria warned. Nothing could've gotten by her- call it mother-sense.

Ezio made no more effort to deny of the fight. "He spoke ill of us. I could not allow him to continue." The rest of the walk was idle chatter on Francesco di Pazzi, and his predicament. Apparently, he had murdered someone, and Ezio's father was to help in the trial. However, we quickly arrived at our destination, judging by Maria's quick, "Here we are".

She knocked eagerly on the door. Who opened it was a finely dressed man, with shoulder length blond hair and stunning blue eyes. "Hello Leonardo," Maria said. 'Wait a minute…'

Leonardo clapped his hands together, saying, "Madonna Maria!" and giving Maria the courteous double kiss on the cheek.

"This is my son, Ezio," she said, gesturing to Ezio beside me. "And Melina, a visitor."

"Molto onorato (it's a pleasure to meet you)," Leonardo said kindly.

Ezio said a curt, "L'onore é mio (the honor is mine)." Whilst we both bowed.

Leonardo turned to Maria. "Let me go and fetch the paintings. I'll be right back." And he disappeared into his home.

Maria turned to Ezio and I. "He's very talented."

"Imagino," Ezio mumbled. I elbowed him in the ribs.

"Self expression is vital to understanding and enjoying life. You should find an outlet."

"I have plenty of outlets."

"I meant besides vaginas," Maria growled. I laughed. I couldn't help it. But I shut up when Ezio gave me the death-glare.

He then turned to glare at his mother, mumbling a disapproving, "Mother…"

Leonardo returned. "Back to your house, then?" He was carrying a large box of paintings. I felt like I should know him… I just couldn't put my finger on it.

"Si, si." Maria turned to Ezio. "Ezio, help Leonardo, will you?"

Ezio picked up the box and we continued on our way. "So Ezio what do you do?" Leonardo asked.

"He's been working for his father," Maria explained.

"Ah, you're to be a banker?" Leonardo asked. I hung behind Leonardo as Ezio strolled ahead of us.

"For now," Ezio said. "And you? Art, was it?"

"Truth be told, it's been difficult for me to settle. Painting is nice, but I often feel like my work lacks… I don't know… purpose. Doe's that make sense? I'd rather contribute more practically. More directly. Architecture, perhaps. Or anatomy. I'm not content on to merely just capture the world… I want to change it."

Maria sighed. "Oh Leonardo! I have no doubt you'll go on to do great things!"

"Vi ringrazio, Madonna (I thank you). That's kind of you."

When we entered the courtyard, Ezio placed the box by the door, and turned to Leonardo and his mother. I, for one, took a spot on the bench.

"Thank you for your help, son. Don't let me keep you from your other duties," Maria said.

"It was nice to meet you, Ezio. I hope our paths cross once again," Leonardo stated.

"Anch'io (me too)."

When Leonardo left, he smiled at me. I returned it, of course, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that I know him. I turned to Ezio. "Who was that?"

Ezio looked at me like I head three heads. "L-Leonardo…didn't you hear us talking…?"

I shook my head vigorously. "No! I mean full name!"

Maria cut in. "Leonardo da Vinci." I froze. I had just met Leonardo da Vinci.

Not giving it a second thought, I screamed (in English) , "Holy crap I just met Leonardo da Vinci! Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit! Oh, if I had just gotten an autograph! I bet that would be worth millions! Of course, no one could have it. It would be my Leo autograph. Oh man… what would my friends say?"

When my little rant was over, I looked up to see an astonished Ezio and Maria. They stared at me with such awe, such curiosity as to what the hell just happened. I smiled meekly, offering a small, "eh-heh…" to make up for my out spurt.

Maria began to open her mouth, but Ezio spoke instead. "What language was that?" he screamed, half in amazement and half in worry.

"English…" I mumbled.

"It is wonderful that you can speak two languages, Melina," Maria praised.

I lowered my head. "Thanks…and sorry, I kind of lost control."

"Is English your newt of tongue?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Interesting." With that, she left. I instantly began to worry that she had thought me a threat. I couldn't remember if at this time Englishmen were an enemy or an ally. If they were an enemy, I just signed my death wish for sure. 'Note to self: no English,' I thought.

"Shall we go inside?" Ezio offered, obviously noticing my worry.

I shook my head, snapping out of my stupor. "Y-yeah… sure."

When we entered the home, Giovani looked expectantly towards us. "Ezio, come in son," he beckoned. With Giovani obviously wanting to speak with Ezio alone, I turned back to the courtyard, shutting the door quietly behind me. When I sat on a bench, I gasped when Federico almost threw himself next to me.

"Did I scare you?" he asked slyly. 'He totally meant to do that,' I thought bitterly.

"Do you and Ezio have a thing for scaring me?" I asked, again, bitterly.

Federico shrugged. "What can I say? Sei carina quando hai paura (You're cute when you're scared)," he said.

I groaned in frustration. "And you're both such flirts! It's no surprise you're related!"

Federico began to chuckle. But he stopped, holding his arm in front of me, when at least seven guards, swords brandished, rushed into the courtyard. "There's one! Get him!" one cried, pointing to Federico. Two guards rushed towards us, pulling Federico up whilst he thrashed around, trying desperately to get free. When I tried to pry their arms off of him, kicking and scratching, one brought his sword down on my arm. I hissed in pain, but continued to try and free Federico. But a guard struck my head with the hilt of his sword. The last things I heard was my name, and Petruccio's frantic screams of terror.

I began to awake slowly, and I saw a figure hovering over me. Thinking it was a guard, I stood almost immediately, ready to fight. Bad move. My head began to swim, sending me to wobble like a drunken sailor. I was relieved when I realized that the figure was Anetta, the Auditore's maid. She was a kind, younger woman, with long ebony hair that was constantly in a bun.

"Signorina Melina! Are you alright?" she asked hurriedly as she placed a steadying hand on my arm.

I nodded, bringing my hand to my head. A sudden realization swept over me. "Federico! Petruccio! Where are they?" I screamed.

Anetta hung her head. "They took them, Signor Giovani too," she said morbidly.

"Oh no…," I muttered. I forced myself to walk straight, straight to the door. Anetta followed, ready to catch me if I should topple over. "Claudia!" I yelled when I entered.

"In here!" a meek voice called.

I followed the voice, and it lead me to Claudia and Maria. Claudia seemed alright, but Maria…

"She's in shock," Anetta stated from behind me.

I inched towards Maria, studying the soulless look in her eyes. "Madonna Maria…" I cooed as I brought myself to give her a small hug.

From outside, I could hear faint scuffling noises. My heart began to race and my hands became all clammy in worry that it might be those damned guards, come back for Claudia and Maria. That led me to think: Had they taken Ezio as well? Anetta stood poised at the door, ready to strike whomever came in with a wooden plank. Much to my surprise and relief, it was Ezio who sauntered in, calling for Giovani and Federico. When Anetta swung her plank, Ezio dodged gracefully, his playing on utter confusion.

"Ser Ezio! Thank God!" Anetta sighed.

"What happened? Where is everyone?" Ezio asked frantically.

"They took your father and brothers to the Palazzo de la Signoria- to prison!" Anetta cried.

"My mother? My sister?"

Next to me, Claudia spoke up. "Ezio…"

Ezio came rushing in. "Claudia!" he called in relief, hugging his sister tightly. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. But mother…" She turned back to Maria and I. Ezio almost ran to his mother, I felt my heart swell. He was so worried.

"She's in shock. They… when she resisted…" Anetta cut in.

Ezio, always the thinker, stated, "It's not safe here. Is there someplace where you can take them?" 'Even at a time like this, he's still thinking ahead for his family… he's still level-headed for them,' I thought admirably.

Anetta nodded. "Yes. To my sister's!"

"Good. Do that. In the meantime I'll go see my father," he stated calmly.

Claudia and Anetta embraced quickly. "Be careful, Messer Ezio. The guards were looking for you as well."

I watched as Anetta took Claudia and Maria away, I ran up to Ezio. "I tried Ezio… I really did but—"

Ezio took a hold of my arm. "Did the guards do this?"

"O-oh…" I had forgotten about that cut. "Y-yes…" Ezio growled, pulling me with him as he left the home hastily.


POOR EZIO! GOD I'D DIE IF THIS HAPPENED TO ME!