I knocked the sword out of Mario's hand, now moving a lot move confidently. I was practicing again and mostly failing- it took me a few hours to get back into that confidence. At the beginning, I ended up on my back more than a few times. But at least I managed to progress. We weren't even going over maneuvers yet, just trying to get me comfortable with the heavier and longer blade.

I apologized to Mario for losing my temper the next day after the memorable closet incident. The conversation was somewhat tense at first.

"I'm sorry." I was not used to apologizing, especially of my own free will. It was almost discouraged back at home, but I tried the best way I could. "I shouldn't have gotten angry." He didn't say anything at the time, his face expressionless. I continued, taking the silence as a reason to explain myself. "My sister is still a sore spot for me. When our mother died, she blamed me, saying that with everything I've gone through, I should have been able to protect her. She also attacked me in the middle of the funeral, and then she just left, saying she couldn't even stand to look at me." I sighed. I hadn't shared this with many people. Not because I didn't want to, but because the only person I could tell it to was Alex...and he was dead now. Jake was my best friend, but he was part of the gang too, and I couldn't tell him because of Larry, the leader. Some twisted story like that. "I guess I just... never gotten over it."

Mario's expression softened slightly. "Thank you for telling me, Eden. I trust you'll try to hold your temper now?"

I nodded guiltily. "Yes. Again, I'm sorry for what the way I stormed off."

Now, we were just about finishing up practice. Mario didn't seem to mind spending his time training Ezio and me, though I wasn't really sure what else there was to do in the villa other than ruffle through the library and maybe do paperwork. This was probably a welcome break to the monotony to him.

"Good girl," he praised with appreciation, picking up his weapon.

"So I'm getting better?" My voice was a little strained- I put nearly all my strength into the disarming move and now my entire arm hurt.

He seemed to think about it for a second.

"I think so, yes. You seem to depend a lot more on your agility than actual strength..."

"I wonder why that is."

"...but you seem to find ways to use that to your advantage," he continued, "Though you still need a lot of practice- we're moving very slowly at the moment. Real battles won't be so slow."

"Well, they might be, considering who I'm fighting against. There are some slow people around... Or, you know, dead ones." I shrugged. I was not too optimistic. But it wasn't like I was actually going to use this long piece of metal for direct fighting. I was perfectly happy with my knives. And the sword was out to get me, I could just tell. It bluntly refused cooperate with me.

Mario was moving a whole lot slower than when practicing with Ezio or the mercenaries, too. I would have felt offended if I didn't know that if he went any faster, I would be on the ground within seconds, much like I was in the beginning of training.

I heard slow applause and looked over to the stairs to find Ezio walking down towards us. "You're pretty decent. Surprising, the amount of progress you've made over only three days."

Unexpected praise, coming from him. I raised my eyebrow in bewilderment.

"Did you finally get laid or something?"

"Pardon?" Instead of answering, I hopped over the fence, coming up to him and smelling the air, wrinkling my nose immediately.

"You did, didn't you?"

"If you're referring to my visit to a certain woman's bed, then yes, "I got laid,"" he replied with a lazy smile. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Saying that around his uncle... the kid had nerve, I'll gave him that.

"Should I call the doctor for a check up then?" I scratched my nose thoughtfully. "How's the poor woman? Die of laughter yet?"

"Your jealousy is unbecoming."

"I'm sure."

I moved past him to lounge on the bench. "Well, what's on the agenda today?"

No one replied to me as Ezio approached his uncle. "Thank you for all you've taught me, Uncle." I didn't like the tone of voice. He was still bent on leaving.

"You're family! I'm looking out for you." Mario didn't seem to catch that note in the boy's voice, though.

"I'm glad you made me stay."

"Ah, so you've reconsidered leaving?" his smile got even more bright. Ow, my eyes.

Damn, Mario was going to be crushed.

There was a pause, in which the old man's face slowly fell. "We'll sail for Spain tomorrow."

"But- I've taught you all those skills so you can use them against our enemies!"

"And if they find us, I will."

I closed my eyes, expecting the explosion. Mario seemed to become more and more angry by the second.

"Fine, if you want to deny your heritage and throw away away everything your father fought and died for, be it! Good bye and luck to you!" He raised his voice only slightly, but it was still menacing. Without waiting for either one of us to react, he stormed away to the villa.

"Wait, Uncle-" Ezio shook his head to himself. "Why is he so upset?"

"Why wouldn't he be?" As we left the rink, a few mercenaries took over. One of them turned towards us. "Vieri was assaulting us ever since you arrived."

I raised an eyebrow, leaning onto my rolled up jacket like a pillow. "Hm. That guy really doesn't like to lose, does he? I heard his men killed another one of your uncle's groups. They can't go on like this for too long without striking back. They were hoping you'd be around to help."

"How did you know that?" Ezio looked hurt for a second and I bared my teeth.

"Let's just say I keep on dropping things right in front of doors where he has meetings with the leader of the mercenaries."

"Right. I should have known." he replied, and I pretended to be offended.

"Anyway, you might see where your uncle might be a little upset with you for that. I don't know what he planned, but I guess it involved you somehow. Now he'll have to rethink a few strategies."

He looked deep in thought, his face confused and guilty. I sighed. "You know, you could always stay around a little longer. This is not the most cheerful place, but it's safe."

"She's right, you know," the leader of the mercenaries said as he watched two of his men spar, "The town itself is nearly ruined, but the walls are still strong enough to hold out a siege. And Maestro relies on you."

His eyes shifted between us, as if unsure. Then he simply marched up the stairs to the castle.

"You think he's convinced?" I wondered out loud to the warrior, who was still watching the fight intently. He didn't reply for a moment.

"Hopefully. Our chances are pretty low without him. We won't be able to get past the front gate."

"Because you're outnumbered?"

"Because they're always closed now. There's not one mercenary that can climb over the walls. And forgive me for saying this, but you are not a fighter."

I held back my defensive retort- he was right. Knives and guns were nice and all, but I had no chance in battle without some back up. And climbing over the walls alone seemed like suicide. I already decided that even if Ezio left, I would stay to help Mario out. I liked the man and I hoped to actually be of some use around here. If my father was an assassin and he was the one that branded me, then I should at least live up to it. You could officially say I unofficially joined them when I agreed to help convince Ezio to stay.

"Ezio? Eden? What are you two doing here?" Mario turned away from a group of mercenaries he was giving out orders to, a look of shock in his one good eye. I shrugged, clearly showing that I didn't even know what I was doing there.

I was equipped with a light sword I borrowed from the smith, promising I'd pay for it when we got back. He grumbled a bit but somehow I managed to convince him. I hoped I wouldn't have to use it too much, mind you. My skill still left much to be desired, but I'd at least be able to deflect a direct hit if it came to that. A very, very, light hit.

"Taking responsibility!" Ezio said firmly, and I smiled to myself, feeling my respect for him grow. "Vieri plagues you because of me!"

Mario seemed taken aback, but one look at my "innocent" expression told him all he needed to know. He chuckled, clearly glad at this turn of events. "Ezio, Vieri assaults us because he's a Templar, and we're assassins."

"It doesn't matter. I wish to help, either way." I leaned onto the wall of the farm house, looking up at the city walls skeptically.

"And I guess I'm here for comic relief. I know I'll be laughing if your nephew falls off a building or something."

This time, no one started glaring at me for that comment, but took it in good humor for once. The closest mercenaries snorted, Mario looked vaguely amused and I saw Ezio's lips twitch slightly. I nodded to myself in satisfaction. At least the morale was higher than a speed bump. Not by much. And I think a few of these men were drunk, but hey, whatever helps, right?

I was actually starting to regret not getting drunk before I agreed to come here…well, not that anyone was really begging me to. But I was not going to deal with Claudia unscrewing my head for sending off her brother to siege a city on his own.

"Seriously though, what's the plan?" I raised an eyebrow, "The walls seem pretty high and the gates are closed, most likely. Or are they open?" You never know, someone might just be crazy or cocky enough to leave them open and without guards when they were openly provoking the neighboring town.

"They're closed," Mario confirmed. "I'm glad you two showed up. See that spot over there?" he pointed at a place in the wall where crates were stacked up. The wall was lower here, the top chipped and destroyed. "You can easily climb up there. There are a few archer guards. But once you take care of them, opening the gate will be easy."

"Sounds like a plan then." Ezio nodded.

"Um- Messer Mario?" It was one of the mercenaries that spoke, surprising me with a shy voice- he was pretty... well, intimidating. "What of the woman? Shouldn't she stay here, where it's safe? I mean, there will be fighting inside and-"

I humphed, turning around on the man. "While your concern is…touching," I gritted, "Implying that I can't take care of myself just because I'm a woman is rather irritating," I snorted. Hopefully no one was going to call on the bluff- the man was huge.

The mercenary stared at me for a second. "Signorina," he softly said, "I just don't wish you hurt. Fighting can be ugly, bloody and foul-"

"I'm here, ain't I?" I crossed my arms, "That means I'm pretty confident about this plan-"

"Eden, that's enough," Mario stopped me. Somewhat reluctantly, I stepped away from the man. I glared into the crowd, but didn't do anything, coming to stand by Mario and Ezio again. They were both looking at me in a strange way.

"Well, what did you expect me to do? Stand aside and let the big men handle it?" I snorted. "Not happening."

"No, it's just that the morale is pretty low already. And being berated by a woman might put a damper on their day," Mario shrugged, giving me a reproachful look. I bit my lip, refusing to feel guilty. I guess when a woman had more faith in a siege than they did, something was wrong.

"He started it." It came out a lot more childishly than it sounded in my head for some unthinkable reason.

Mario shook his head and looked away towards the walls again. "You'll go with Ezio. I saw you climbing onto the roof of the villa two days ago, I think you can make that jump."

Or you just want to separate me from your men so no more egos won't get crushed, you old fart, I affectionately thought, surprising even myself. At least I wouldn't have to join in on the actual fighting until later, if at all.

"Yeah, sure. Though if someone wants to give me a lift, I'll appreciate it." I looked down at my hands, clenching and unclenching them. I finally got tired of climbing with my bare hands after I got an least a dozen splinters from one of the frames on the said villa. After cursing as I removed every one of them (the doctor refused to help me after the little incident a few days ago, unless I was fatally wounded and dying.), I decided to screw it, borrowed some money, and bought myself a pair of sturdy gloves. Mine were left in my apartment back in New York and I was obviously not going to get them back.

"Well, if everyone's ready, let's do this. And Ezio," Mario gave the young assassin a belt with thin handles of throwing knives sticking out of the little pockets. "Here, you can use them to dispatch the archers."

I almost sighed with relief. I didn't like letting my own knifes go as it is, and those archers were generally out of my reach. At least now he could waste his weapons all he wanted.

The mercenaries, led by Ezio's suicidal uncle, were now running towards the gates with menacing battle cries. God, some people can really scream. I grimaced, resisting the urge to put my hands around my ears. With a glance at Ezio, I ran to the stacked crates, lightly pushing off of them. The edge was much easier to grip than I thought, though I nearly fell as the bricks crumbled a bit. But I managed pull myself up. The boy got up a few seconds after me. We could now hear the clanging of metal against metal as our side clashed with Vieri's.

"There's one on the walls," he whispered, and I nodded, just noting the back of the guard that was walking along the ramparts. How the hell did he not see us climb up here? Though I already noticed that these guards were so intent on being vigilant that they didn't even realize if you slipped right behind them. Even if you maybe pick pocketed their money in the process.

The guard collapsed noisily onto the stone walkway, and I took my knife out of his throat, cleaning it off on his sleeve. It would be so much easier to just use my gun. But I couldn't- they weren't even invented yet and it would raise questions I didn't want to answer. I sniped down some of Ezio's pursuers back in Florence, but I did it because no one was around. I admit that I didn't want to try and explain to Maria that the only son she had left had died because he didn't notice the one archer I missed when taking down the guard.

I heard the gate opening and cheers erupting. I wondered whose side was winning, but I guessed ours. Leaning over the wall, I watched as Mario's men poured in. Ezio must have opened the gates, then. Now, how was I getting down?

I took a sharp breath. Their insanity must be contagious or something, because I dropped my bag down and climbed over the edge of the wall, carefully beginning to climb down the huge banner. I must be either insane or just plain stupid, because the banner slowly began to slip out of my grasp, and I suddenly couldn't find any ledges to take hold of. Shutting my eyes tightly, I tried not to think about the few meters left to the ground and let go.

A short fall and then it was over as soon as it started. I felt strong hands under me, and let out a breath of relief, opening my eyes meaning to thank the man. Until my jaw fell open with shock.

"You're welcome," Ezio grumbled setting my down. I bit my lip to stop laughter. Damn karma. What did I do in the past life to deserve this? "Next time you decide to fall on me with a heavy bag, I'll just let you hit the ground."

"Well, now, aren't you the gentleman? Now come on, or all the good guards will be taken." I picked up my bag and waved my hand, gesturing him to follow.

"No gratitude," he sighed tragically, falling into a run beside me.

"Thank you," I fleetingly grinned, and he opened his mouth as if about to say something. But then he shut it again, just shrugged and continued running.

What, did I kill someone? I did that in this life, too. Did I mass murder some sort of village? Probably getting closer...

"Ezio... Mario is under attack, he needs your help..." I dropped down beside the mercenary who was leaning heavily onto the well in the middle of the plaza. Bodies littered the stone tiles around him.

"Alright, let me see..." I forcefully moved his hand away from the stab wound. "Hm, well, just how much did you like your kidneys?"

"Will he be alright?" I felt a hand on my shoulder and I swatted it away.

"Go catch up with Mario, I'll do what I can," He didn't move as I got out the first aid kit from my bag."GO!" I growled.

The wound was deep and it was bleeding out fast. The man seemed to be alive only out of willpower. I licked my lips nervously and with some panic when I realized that there was nothing I could do- the wound was too deep and too wide. His organs probably already rearranged themselves, too. The man was dying, and fast.

Dammit it all.

"Ah, Ezio! You're right on time!" Mario said cheerfully, dodging under a guard's blade and driving his own into his gut, jerking it up and pulling out in a swift motion. "Where's Eden?"

"She's- she's taking care of one of your men," he shrugged, stabbing a random opponent in the back while he was distracted by one of the mercenaries.

"And you left her? Alone?" Mario seemed alarmed for some reason.

"She can take care of herself," he growled. What was he, her keeper?

"And how do you know that she's not-"

"Working for Vieri? You think I'm insane enough to do that?" A familiar voice sounded and another blade joined the battle.

Ezio had to admit he knew where his Uncle was coming from. The girl showed up out of nowhere, and all this listening at keyholes business...she could have easily been a spy, her tattoo just a cover up story. Even though Mario seemed to like her, he still didn't trust her completely. Neither did Paola, as she told him before she left. But she thought it would be better if she was within Ezio's sight.

"What of-"

"Dead."

"Ah."

Ezio noticed that she didn't enter in open combat, preferring to sneak up on the enemies from behind and slitting their throats with her dagger, only using the longer blade to block stray hits. Very clumsily, too, but she managed to stay alive. There was also a distant, stony look on her face as the blood sprayed everywhere. Did she actually feel bad that the man died? It wasn't her fault though. They arrived too late to do anything. And yet, she-

"By the way, the bad guys are having a meeting." she suddenly called out,"Apparently the chief villain showed up and Vieri doesn't even know we're attacking."

"What?" Mario yelled through the battle, "How did you know that?"

Ezio glanced at her to find one of those blood-chilling smirks of hers. "When the guard didn't talk, I got a little... carried away."

"Where are they, then?" Ezio dispatched his current opponent and neared her. She dodged a blow quickly and sunk one of her daggers into the man's leg, making him fall with a scream.

"Lying somewhere in that ditch... Oh, the little ring of villains? By the castle." Her voice was light as usual, but there was no hint of laughter in her eyes now. It was... different from her usual playful exterior. Ezio was not sure if it was for the better or for the worse.

She stabbed the guard on the ground, finishing him off, and pulled Ezio's elbow in the direction of the castle. He looked back to his uncle and followed the girl once he saw him nod.

"You know what?" she said thoughtfully, her breathing slightly faster and shallow from the running and fighting.

"What?"

"Once this is over, I'm going to find myself a bar and drown myself in the sweet salvation that is alcohol." As they ran, he stared at her for a second, and then couldn't help but smirk as well.

"Of all the things to be thinking right now..."

"Well, what would you rather me do?" She raised an eyebrow, stopping suddenly. "Cry my eyes out?"

"No." He stopped too, following her onto the roofs. "Just out of curiosity, do you have tear ducts?"

"Of course," she shrugged, "They're just all dried up from little use."

"I should have known."

"But you didn't."

"But I should have."

"But you-" she suddenly stopped. "There they are!"

She sneaked closer, stepping on the roof lightly and lying down so they wouldn't see her. He followed her example and perked his ears. There were five men forming where they stopped in front of the gates.

"-and what of that fool, Mario Auditore? He's still being a nuisance." It was de'Pazzi Junior talking, his fists clenched.

"Can you hear anything?" Eden whispered, and Ezio nodded. There was a look of disbelief on her face, but she didn't say anything.

"He was always trouble. Just like that brother of his."

"Then let me reunite them, Father!"

"That's enough. We'll take care of the trash once our plan is complete. Francesco, what progress in Florence?" the man in dark robes with a hood over his head spoke. Everyone immediately fell silent.

So this is the "chief villain" Eden mentioned? Ezio thought to himself.

"It'll be done."

"Good. We must go now. And Vieri, don't disappoint."

"Of course not, Maestro."

"May the Father of Understanding guide us," they chanted as they began moving again, separating.

They were just about to leave through the gates again when a stray guard suddenly caught up with them. "What is it now?" Vieri snarled, clearly not pleased with the way the conversation went.

"Mario Auditore is attacking the city, he's coming for you!"

"Then let's not keep him waiting," Vieri smiled smugly, waving his hand and drawing two other guards with him.

As if right on cue, Mario's men came to the scene, engaging the last remainder of the guards that were standing in lines, blocking the streets.

"Alright, my little assassin, what the hell just happened? I couldn't hear anything," Eden asked. He told her, and she seemed confused for a moment.

"So... you go deal with Vieri, and I'll help out your Uncle?" Eden seemed uncertain for some reason. She looked at the fighting with a sour look, it was plain she'd rather just lie here until all of it was over.

He was suddenly glad she said that - he wanted to kill Vieri himself after all that happened. Did she know that? He couldn't see her face clearly in the darkness as she started climbing down the walls, but decided she just didn't want to bother. He didn't go after her, instead jumping onto the neighboring roof. Then from there, he silently moved onto the stairs leading to the parapet that Vieri disappeared into with two guards.

"Where's Ezio?" Mario asked as I cleaned the thin blade of my knife on the nearest body's coat. I furrowed my brows together. The battle lasted maybe two minutes, the mercenaries overwhelming the city guards with ease.

"He's taking care of Vieri."

"Where?"

"Tower?" I threw my head back to look at the giant parapet. "Yes, I think so."

"Hm."

"Yep," I nodded with a sigh, straightening. I lost two of my knives in the battle, which was sad. I liked them. It was no use trying to find them now around this grave yard.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Vieri coughed as Ezio's hands clenched on his ribs, "Were you hoping for a confession?"

That was the last straw for the young assassin. All that anger he had at his father's killers, at his father for keeping everything away from him, at his uncle Mario, at Eden, and the god damned world, and most of all, at Vieri came spilling out, like a dam breaking under the pressure of the water.

"I think he's okay," I smiled, hearing the very loud swearing. He was not in sight yet, but his voice carried. But at least he was alive and well. "Ouch, he's really pissed."

Mario was not amused though, hurrying to pull himself up onto the tower's edge. He tore Ezio away from the corpse, the boy still shaking with rage. Oh dear, any more and he'll start crying... I frowned, unsure how to act. This situation seemed very familiar, though... Wasn't this how I reacted when my mother died? Went on a warpath, hunting down the ones responsible for her death, kicking and screaming at their dead bodies, blaming them for everything that went wrong in the short two weeks?

I also got very hurt in the process, so maybe someone should stop him before he goes the same path. Mario seemed to be on it.

"Stop it, Ezio. Have some respect."

"Respect?" I sat on the teeth of the wall, watching the scene as Mario closed Vieri's eyes. I looked at the corpse with distaste, still remembering the comment he made about me when we first met. According to, well, a lot of people, he was not very nice. I don't know exactly why Ezio was so eager to kill him, but it must have been a good reason.

I suddenly realized I barely knew anything about what was going on. Mario and Ezio mentioned some sort of list of names a few times, but that was as far as I got. I'd ask the assassin (either of them) once we got out of here.

"And you think that he would have shown us the same?"

"You are not Vieri," Mario said sternly, his good eye glaring, "Do not become him."

That seemed to shut Ezio up, though he was still livid nearly shaking with rage.

Unsure of what else to do and trying to cover up the tension, I ventured over to them. "Why so grim, my little assassin?" I asked with exaggerated cheerfulness despite suddenly feeling exhausted "The siege was a success! That pig in noble's clothes is dead! You should be barfing rainbows from happiness now!"

He looked at me sourly, the murderous glint in his eyes causing me to come a standstill, though I refused to look away.

"What? No?" I tiredly said, "Fine, either way, let's get out of this dump." He turned around and followed Mario off the tower. "Seriously," I continued, still attempting to cut through the tension with a knife of banter, "Cheer up! Look, do you want a hug or something?"

"Not from you, that's for sure," he grit, his encounter with Vieri obviously still fresh. Not that I blamed him. "You have thorns," he growled.

"What do you think I am, a rose?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of a fly trap..."

"That hurts. I hate flies."

"Really? So we rule out frogs too. So what exactly are you, then?"

"Oh, you know, nothing grand. A venomous bear or something."

"Well, you definitely have the weight of one. OW!" he replied to my light punch to his arm. Thankfully, the distraction seemed to be working. Dwelling on that asshole Vieri couldn't be an option. For him to be consumed by such hate would do him no good. It's best to stop it before it gets out of hand, and I'm speaking from experience.

"That's for being a douchebag!"

"A what now?"

I told him.

He was speechless. And probably scarred for life now, though his mood lifted a bit more, at least.

Mission accomplished.