Adelaide sat on the bench of the citadel's courtyard, her knees drawn up close to her chest and her hands playing with a small throwing knife, waiting for her guardians to return. She took the knife off one of the dummies Eden used for target practice, as the knife was sunk so deeply, she didn't even notice it when she collected them again. Even if the assassin noticed the weapon, useless and insignificant in the hands of a child, she said nothing.

Adel was thinking. She has been doing plenty of that recently with all the books that she found in Antonio's library and the talks with Leonardo, Eden and Ezio. With her horizons expanded, there was more space to ponder. In a way, Eden was right; knowing the history and tricks of politics helped Adel, at the age of only ten, understand people and their actions much better. It quickly led to her losing much of the naivety and confusion that most children usually had.

But today, she was not thinking about politics, or studying the methods of obtaining and holding power, or examining live (or dead) examples of it, in the forms of the Barbarigo cousins, the Doge of Venice, Rodrigo Borgia and the others. She already spent much of her time figuring those out, hoping that even a little knowledge could help Eden and Ezio in some way. No, today she was pondering more personal things.

How many more times would Eden and Ezio disappear like this to go and save someone's life? Or put an end to the tyranny of Templars, one district and power-thirsty madman at a time? And how many more times would they come back? And why did she pride herself with the fact that she was their student, yet still felt absolutely useless? Becoming nothing more than a burden to them, when they had so many other things to protect, why did she constantly hinder them?

She understood better with the years why Eden refused her at first, and why she continued to put off further training. Adel was someone who could be easily used against them, without remorse or guilt, just the desire to bring the assassins to their knees, or even less. The little scene outside the gates of the Arsenal two years ago showed that much. For men that would kill innocent children simply because they wanted a few more coins. Disregarding the fact that those children had futures, and that they had families that would cry over them...

"What are you doing here?" Adel looked around, surprised to hear someone talking to her. She was sure that she was allowed into the fortress. After all, both of her guardians were guests here, and they told her to get inside. So she simply raised an eyebrow, not bothering to move from her spot.

The speaker was a boy who looked even younger than her by perhaps two or three years, with dark, ruffled hair and slightly narrowed, muddy green eyes. He was not ugly or bad looking, but Adel wasn't really sure how to judge that. For her parents always seemed to care more about the money in the man's pockets rather than his huge front teeth or fishy eyes, though her current guardians disproved that theory soon enough. He was dressed rather richly, despite the few dirt stains and a small tear along the arm of his tunic, so he was probably one of Caterina's children. Adel barely spared him a glance of cold disinterest, not moving her feet off the bench or in any way inviting the boy to linger.

"Ezio and Eden told me to stay here. So I'm staying," she replied calmly. "I wish I could come with them, but since I can't..."

"Then why don't you?" Tentatively, he sat down on the very edge, likely realizing that she was not going to move. "Tell me who you are!"

"Right this moment, your highness," she replied with a short laugh. He shifted his eyebrows together. "Do you want me to go into detail, or can you guess?"

He only opened his mouth twice, but she already didn't like him. She had seen kids and adults like him, used to whining and ordering around their servants, knowing that they could do just about anything they pleased without consequence. There was a time she pretended to like them for the sake of her parents. But now, she decidedly had no patience for them.

As she knew, he found no answer to her question. Adel, taking note that the boy apparently refused to leave just yet, changed the subject. "Why aren't you inside? Aren't you scared?" As he opened his mouth angrily, she added, "For your siblings, that is?"

"Bianca and Ottaviano?" he rolled his eyes, "Like we can get rid of them that easily. That man went to look for them, anyway. Is he your father?"

"No." It was the second time that day people implied that she even had parents. "He's my teacher."

"He doesn't look like someone who can teach sewing and cooking." Adel wasn't sure whether he was simply surprised or actually mocking her. But just in case, she humphed, and turned away.

"I'm going to be an assassin one day," she said to the wall proudly, "Eden says that men can start learning to cook their own meals." She didn't add the fact that Eden said that because she could not cook anything other than crisps and ash.

"Why would a girl like you want to become something like that?

Adel threw him a quick look through narrowed eyes. "Because I don't like cooking," she snapped aggressively, "Or sewing. I want to be like them - everyone is either afraid or them or praises them like saviors. They get respect, which is more than I can say for you."

"I get respect," he grumbled, not pleased with the conversation. Adel absently wondered what he was expecting from her, and then decided she didn't care. "I'm a noble and my mother is the ruler of this city."

She sighed…the boy just didn't understand.

"Well, if you want to be useless your entire life..."

"Cesare!" a shrill female voice called, and the middle-aged woman Adel thought was the nanny came running out of one of the buildings. "Come back inside, it's not safe yet! Or do you want to be swept away like your brother and sister?"

"She gets to stay out!" he complained loudly, pointing to Adel, who watched with slight amusement. She remembered when she had a woman like that on her tail. She certainly did not miss her, or the constant attention and her annoying mumbling that endlessly buzzed in her ears.

One glance at the girl's simple traveling clothes, mud-sprayed cloak, and the small knife she spun about in her hands told the woman everything. She frowned, staring at Adel with disapproval, a glare which the girl wholeheartedly returned, but with an added smirk of defiance. "The young lady can do as she wishes."

"I'd like to see you try to force me..." The thought flashed in her head, but Adel said nothing. It was a long time since she had decided not to allow anyone to take control of her like the parents did. Eden and Ezio were the only ones she permitted to tell her what to do for the sake of the training, but that was it.

"But-"

He didn't finish, however. At that moment, Caterina herself appeared in the courtyard, walking alongside Niccolo and discussing something with him in hushed tones. Cesare slipped behind the nanny without waiting for his mother to notice him, while Adel stood up, meaning to go and ask Niccolo something.

"They will come back soon, hopefully. If they don't run across the Orsi brothers by then, we'll be sure to hunt them down."

"Good," Caterina nodded, expression awash with relief, even as she said, "I want their heads on spikes after they dared to double cross me."

"I'll see what we can do." Adel couldn't tell whether the man was serious or not. "But in the meantime-" The girl noticed something out of the corner of her eyes, and jerked her head up in alarm, her hand gripping the hilt of the throwing knife she was playing with. She saw nothing at first, and decided that it was just her eyes playing tricks on her-

Wait. Eden said that when eyes play tricks, intuition takes over. And there was definitely something wrong...

She tried to relax and focus on the surroundings, like her teachers taught her. What was wrong? What was different? It was quiet, but that was because everyone waited for the attack to end.

Metal...there was definitely the sound of metal clanking, and it wasn't coming from Niccolo or Caterina. The assassin noticed something, too, and was looking up to the walls cautiously, his hands on the hilt of his blade. Caterina swiftly caught on to the fact that he was no longer listening to her, shifting her eyebrows together but not understanding.

What was happening?

They came suddenly. The man that she saw on the plaza in front of the castle earlier, the one threatening to kill Caterina's children. He and only about half a dozen men jumped down to the middle of the courtyard from the roofs-

Niccolo, Caterina and the guards that remained in the citadel drew their weapons as soon as they realized what has happening. The man in purple ore still wore the same sadistic smirk, though there was a trace of worry. Without many words, he and his men attacked. Swords arced through the air, steel clashing on steel again, fresh blood spraying onto the ground. Niccolo dispatched two of the Orsi men immediately in one fluid movement, taking a graceful a step in defense of the woman. However, she hardly needed it, effectively holding her own.

Adel stood, watching with shock and fascination at the same time, suddenly unsure as to what she was supposed to be doing in this type of situation. Someone began to pull on her arm, and her eyes darted in the direction. Cesare was trying to pull her to the safety of the houses, looking quite terrified. Useless. she decided mentally, ripping her arm from his grip, and staying in her spot. The gesture snapped her out of the momentary confusion, and she quickly tried to think the situations through.

The Apple... they had to be here for it. Her eyes snapped to Caterina, seeking the artifact on her. In seconds, she rapidly realized that it was no longer on her, instead the hands of the Purple Man, who suddenly made a start towards the gates, slipping from the battle.

Adel wasn't really sure what forced her hand to move - perhaps it was the fact that within moments, the man would disappear with the treasure Ezio and Eden were guarding. Or maybe, it was simply a reflex she'd learned from watching their practices.

She drew her hand back, and with all her strength threw the knife at the back of the intruder, and-

To her surprise, she didn't miss completely. Fortunately, he didn't manage to put enough space between them, for a baby could make the throw. The throwing knife sank into his elbow, throwing him off center into a stumble. Yet, despite a loud string of curses, her he continued to run. Both Niccolo and Caterina were out the door after him before anyone else in the courtyard could even realize what was happening.

Adel continued to stand in her spot, still shocked at her own actions. She just…she just threw a very sharp knife…she meant for it to sink much higher and to the left, where she knew the heart was.

Without further thought, she took off out the gates, ignoring the astonished stare of Cesare. Crashing into Niccolo, who'd stopped just before crossing the draw bridge, after a moment, she realized why; from the side of the gates, two very familiar people were running towards them, two kids at their side.

"Ottaviano! Bianca! Oh, thank God!" Caterina fell down to her knees, completely ignoring the fact that her new dress got stained in the process as she hugged her children tightly. Both of them initially squirmed away, rolling their eyes at her alternate cries of relief, kisses and scolding, which was only followed by more sounds of relief. Yet after a few moments, they quickly returned her embrace. Ottaviano was babbling about how much of a puttana Ludvico was, Bianca excitedly repeating how she constantly taunted the guards.

Eden stood off the side, shrugging and filling in anything the children may have forgotten. However, Ezio quickly took in the dead Orsi guards scattered in front them and Caterina's freshly bloodied sword."What are you doing out here?" he asked incredulously.

Freezing, Caterina let the boy and girl go, ushering them inside, before she turned to face him. "Ezio," she breathed, eyes watery and worried, "I am so sorry..."

"What happened?"

"It was all just a distraction, to lower our defenses!" she quickly told him.

"They came back as soon as you left! Checco has the Apple!" Niccolo interrupted, his sword still drawn.

A horrified look flashed across Ezio's face. "What? No! Where is he?"

Eden's jaw was clenched tightly as she shot a glance of slight accusation at Caterina. And no wonder - Ezio trusted her to keep the artifact safe. Despite that Machiavelli there, and with an entire fortress at their disposal... "We chased him out here, and he made a run for it," Niccolo continued,"He's probably out the gates already-"

"We'll go after him!" Adel could see controlled panic in Ezio's eyes as he turned to Eden. She shook her head however.

"You go and try to catch up to him. It'll be easier alone."

"What do you have in min-" Ezio began with furrowed eyebrows, but she glared at him. There was no time to argue.

"Jesu Cristo! Go, you can't let him get away!"

He only hesitated for half a second before he broke into a run, disappearing from sight.

"Is the map intact, at least?" Eden turned to the people that remained.

"Yes, it's in-"

"Good." And with that, she headed inside of the fortress. "Where would he head to?"

"The mountains, likely, in direction of Florence," Niccolo fell into step, walking into the fortress.

"Is it possible to alert a guard post there?" she curtly asked. Adel was slightly surprised. Usually so pleasant and cheerful at any other time, now she was collected and focused. Refusing giving into the panic, she snapping through solutions faster than Adel could even fully understand the situation.

"A pigeon should make it there before Checco," Niccolo replied fast, as he likely already came to the same option. "He could take an alternative route, but they should still be alerted." Adel hung on to every word, following the exercise Ezio set her almost a full year ago. It consisted of thinking of as many different outcomes as she could and then finding a way to narrow it down to the best one. So far, she has doing that dutifully every time they got contracts or missions, so this one was almost no problem.

After a few calculations, she decided that their chances of catching Checco Orsi were better than good. And Eden likely came to the same conclusion as well. But then why did she look so grim?

As if reading her mind, Eden bit her lip, and sighed. "I have a bad feeling about all this."

Ezio felt the trembling of the horse becoming imprinted in his mind as he sent it galloping even faster, forcing it to catch up to the fleeing man. The horse under him snorted angrily, but ran with the endurance and speed of a well-bred race horse, leveling with the runaway. He'd never tried doing something as incredibly risky as jumping from one horse's back to another while running at full speed. But there was a first time for everything...

There were mere seconds left before the horse would begin to tire, or worse, the Orsi would pull out a blade. Ezio fired off a shot from his bracer gun almost without aiming, barely keeping in the saddle himself as his horse made a start at the loud noise. It had its desired effect though, Checco's horse rearing up on its hind legs and screeching with pain. The man on its back did not expect such a trick, and almost let go of the reigns. Only by luck and desperation did he manage to hold himself in the saddle. It did little good however, as the horse showed every sign of collapsing within seconds. Forced to finally let go, he crashed down on his backside in the soft mud.

It took Ezio a few moments to turn the horse around and come back to the spot. Unfortunately, those few moments were enough for Checco to leap to his feet and disappear.

Ezio cursed mentally, but slid off his nervous horse. Despite that he was exhausted from all the fighting and counter attacking, he took a deep, calming breath to center himself into Eagle Vision.

He caught up to the Templar flunky right in the middle of a small village southwest of Forli's wall, at the path that led into the mountains. The silence enveloped him like a thick fog, more heavy than that of a graveyard. Checco was a professional, after all, giving nothing away. No sign of heavy breathing, nervous footsteps, or even the rustle of clothing or metal could be heard. He was lying low, waiting for either a chance to attack or continue on his way. Neither of which was in Ezio's plans.

The Assassin stepped softly onto the mud, his glowing gaze flitting to every house and every crack in between, straining all his senses. His horse's snorting, loud steps and his enemy's horse's painful struggle was proving difficult to block out. But he forced that noise away, focusing.

He began to walk in the direction of his target's trail, slowly, carefully, and soundlessly. As he leveled with the deep shadow of the first house, he made sure to check the path behind him, and then continued. Perfectly silent, he refused to give his position away with taunts or threats. Playing with the targets was more Eden's specialty. And even then, only when she was sure they were in her grasp. He was not prepared to take any chances, for the Orsi brother, while inferior in skill, still had a good chance...

It was the sharp intake of a pained breath that gave the man away. He was pressed against the wall just behind the corner of the next house, and Ezio was upon him in seconds.

The last Orsi brother fell with a grunt, the shock of the hidden blade slicing through his middle paralyzing his movements. Ezio let out a short breath of relief as he snatched him by his throat, rendering him unable to move. Checco looked up to him with pained, but clear eyes full of hatred as Ezio reached for the Apple, which shone brightly in the dark shadow.

"So...you have your prize again."

"Was it worth it?" Ezio asked, sincerely wanting to know what possessed this man to trade his life for a few coins. Checco laughed before breaking into a coughing fit, the blood already spilling from his lips. He was fading fast, it seemed. "To go through all that only for the Apple to once again end up in my hands?"

The man grinned as if Ezio just told a funny joke. "A prize of such value? It will not remain yours for long..."

"We shall see.," Ezio took in the statement calmly, snapping out his hidden blade again and ending the other's man's life once and for all with a strike to the throat. "What wretched things are borne of greed...requiescat in pace."

A flare of pain screamed through his skull, his breath catching in his throat. Reeling, he searched for the source of the sudden explosion, his chest tightening as he willed himself not to panic. Glancing downward, it wasn't hard to miss how the front of his robes was steadily beginning to turn crimson. The stiletto in his side was unexpected...the dead man's hand slid to the ground, the bastard dying with a self-satisfied smirk set on his lips. Defiant to the end, apparently.

Despite that his vision swam instantly, Ezio refused to even let out a cry of annoyance,. The sharp ache spread from his stomach through his body, hitting his heart and brain with force. His crouched position was suddenly too hard to keep, and he fell to his side. "No…" he gritted out, "Cazzo…dammit to hell-" The Apple was slipping out of his grasp, his fingers suddenly refusing to work.

Everything in sight seemed too dark…or too bright-? Dying….he was dying...? How was that…even…possible…?

The irony...

He'd heard that when you're dying, your life flashed before your eyes. For once, it didn't seem to be a lie. His mother…Claudia…Federico…Petruccio… his father…Eden...

"Eden," he demanded from the artifact with struggling voice, "Get Eden." The artifact responded by glowing along its seams, though he could barely see it, his vision darkening with every heartbeat. Strange, that seemed to now roar in his ears…Ezio wasn't sure if he Apple was reacting to his order or something else entirely. So he repeated the name again, trying to reach for the artifact. It was just an inch too far away, however.

Blasted thing!

His strength failed him entirely now. He couldn't stop himself from falling onto his back completely. His head hitting the soft ground, his other hand clutched at his stomach, his fingers sticky and warm with blood…

The already murky sun was suddenly obscured. He forced his eyes to focus, but it didn't help. He did not know the man that now stood in front of him. All he managed to make out were the dark robes of a…monk? His mutilated hand reached for the artifact on the ground. "Who are you?" Ezio croaked, his breath rasping and harsh in his ears. "No!" he realized exactly what the man was doing, "Don't open it-"

With that, the sky faded out completely.

He was left lying on the mud beside Checco Orsi.

I felt the call - it was impossible not to. Both my intuition and the desperate screaming of the Apple seared through my mind like a whip, forcing my legs to move before I could even truly understood the direction. Leaving behind shocked Caterina and Niccolo, I didn't even see the gates of the citadel as I flashed underneath them. The houses and faces that appeared on the borders of in the sides of my vision blurred, all of them unimportant, irrelevant, unneeded.

It's not too late, not yet. But if you don't run faster, it will be!

How much faster could this stupid body of mine run?

Fast enough, it appeared.

The gates were already in sight, and it was close enough that I could feel the pain that pulsed through his body, all beginning in his side. He was carried by two of Caterina's men into the city. Arguing between each other, they were too slow, likely new recruits, unable to move any faster with the heavy body of my fiancé.

"Put him down!" I bellowed just as I hit the breaks only an inch away from them. They flinched, staring at me in bewilderment, likely wondering where I came from. I didn't have time for explanations, however. "Put him down, and get a fucking doctor!" The obeyed, somehow not questioning my authority to order them around. Ezio was lowered down onto the stone road in front of the gates. I absently noted people coming out of their houses to watch like vultures.

"You must think this is funny, you idiota," I growled under my breath as I searched for the wound. I found it quickly along his right side, his robes stained with the sickening scarlet that I knew was his own. There was nothing in it, so he must have pulled it out himself when he was conscious. It only served to allow the blood to flow freely. "Going to get yourself killed like an unskilled and arrogant Templar!" I hissed, my now bloody fingers brushing his cheek, "Do you not see the irony?"

People that heard me must have thought me insane, talking to dying, unconscious man. But I was far beyond caring.

I pushed ripped away the fabric and belt that got in the way, slicing away his sash as well with my dagger. Searching through my bag with one bloodied hand for something to stop the bleeding, the other tried to hold the broken dam of blood. There were hurried footsteps, a whistle, and someone crouched beside me. The doctor, I think.

"Get something to stop the bleeding, now!" I roared, having no luck myself as my hands were now covered up to my elbows in blood. "He can't lose anymore blood!"

"I know that better than you, so please, calm yourself," the doctor snapped, already taking out the needed things out of his own bag.

"If you don't do something NOW, I swear to god, I'll send you to hell faster than he gets there!"

"Eden..."

I did not respond at first, drawing a deep breath before looked up to Adel. Her eyes were red, contrasting with their usual icy blue, and she was constantly sniffing, though there were no tears. I must have looked little better at that moment.

She gently came a step closer, and put her hand onto my head, stroking my hair in comfort. I attempted a smile, but it failed. "I'm really sorry," she surprised me by saying.

"What do you have to be sorry about?" I furrowed my eyebrows, "There was nothing we could do...perhaps if I went with him, I could have helped him sooner. But, what's done is done," I swallowed. I looked bitterly at Ezio, who lay quietly on the bed. Even in his sleep, his expression was still one of pain, but he made no noise.

"I threw a knife at Checco," she suddenly spilled out. I glanced at her with surprise. "I hit his elbow...and completely by accident! But maybe if I accidentally hit his leg, he wouldn't have run away so fast...or I could have killed him, and we would have avoided all of this-" she babbled, her words coming faster and faster as she suddenly gulped for air.

I stared at her with shock for a long moment, and then let out a very quiet groan. Pulling her onto my knees, I held her blond head to my chest tightly, soothing her hair with a hand, "Adel, you are the strangest child I have ever met! You actually wish you could have killed him, just to save Ezio?"

"Yes," she stated bluntly, "To save Ezio and the Apple. And all the rest of the people that man could have hurt in the future. I wish I had been more useful than that..."

"Oh good lord," I let out a slightly hysterical chuckle, "Who the hell are we raising? Is this what my kids will be like? Then I am seriously starting to doubt letting my sister heal me!"

She stayed silent for a long, long time, her hands clutching my waist and her entire frame trembling slightly.

"Where is you sister?" she finally asked. I shifted my eyebrows together, but replied.

"Remember how I told you I time traveled into this century?"

She snorted skeptically, seeming to return to return for her old self for a little while. "Eden, I know I'm only ten, but I don't believe in fairy tales."

"I know you don't, but Ezio can back my words up. And Niccolo, Mario and Leonardo believe me..."

"Oh, alright," she allowed, though she didn't sound particularly convinced. "But your sister..."

"Mmm, yes...Eve. She's on the other side of the world, if you forget the entire time difference..."

"Eden and Eve," she tried the combination together, "Like the Bible story?"

"Yes... I guess so. Except I doubt my mom knew that Eden was a real place and Eve's Apple is out there. Then again, maybe she did," I sighed.

We sat like that for a long time, quietly talking about everything and anything, just to distract ourselves. I recounted all my memories of my family, answered every question she asked, and in turn she remembered her mother, who she loved so much as a child, but grew colder as the years went by. After falling silent for a bit, she then told me she no longer missed any of her life; the only one she could think of as guardians now were Ezio and me. Now, the only thing she wanted was to become and Assassin and save the world. It made me chuckle.

But when I finally grew quiet again, she suddenly said, "Eden...I really want to learn how to use a weapon."

I didn't reply, unsure what to do. Then I just let out a pent up breath of resignation. "Fine. When we go to Monteriggioni again, I'll, well, we're going to start."

"Promise?" She didn't seem to expect the agreement, moving slightly away to look at my face with suspicion. I laughed quietly, and then nodded. She threw her arms around my neck, kissing my cheek happily. "Finally!"

"Alright, alright - here, go find the kitchen at ask for some food. Your stomach is grumbling so loudly it's going to wake the entire house up."

She, likely not wanting to wait for me to change my mind, almost shot out the door. I followed her with my eyes, biting at my lip slightly. Frankly, there wasn't much else to do but accept the inevitable.

I stood up and stretched, allowing the blood to rush to my legs, and then stood for a moment, thinking. My gaze fell to Ezio, and I felt a little ill again as I looked at his pained, pale face. On impulse, I carefully sat down beside him, stroking the stray hair out of his face gently. Damn, I suddenly felt exhausted. Which was probably why I began talking to myself. Or maybe, I needed him to know that I was still here.

"You really made us all worry, Ezio," I murmured, maneuvering myself so that his head rested in my lap. "There's stuff to do, how can you just lie there, hm?"

"I don't think he can hear you."

I didn't turn around, easily recognizing the voice. But I barely even had the energy for emotion. "Better than talking to thin air."

Caterina walked to the foot of the bed, placing her hands neatly on the frame. "You poor girl..."

"That came out of nowhere," I bit, "With all due respect, speak sense, will you?" It came out a bit more coldly than I intended. To be frank, I really didn't care.

"You're in love with him," she stated the fact bluntly.

I threw my eyes up in shock. Whirling to look at her, I was prepared to send a barrage of retorts her way. However, her expression caused me to freeze. For there was nothing but pity in her gaze. Yet, even despite my exhaustion, I was suddenly infuriated again. "If that is news," I snapped, not caring that I addressed a duchess. And that technically, she could have me killed with a snap of her fingers. That is, if her guards were fast enough. They rarely were... "Then you're late by about two years."

"You realize he is one of those men that will use you and leave?"

"Oh, he hasn't left so far. Not matter how much I attempted to drive him away, at least at first." Is that triumph in my voice...?

"Then you must be that good," she calmly replied. I almost snarled at that, pulling my lips apart to bare my teeth aggressively.

"He wouldn't have proposed to this 'poor little girl' if he simply thought that."

"Did he?" That seemed to be some surprise to her, though she hardly showed it. No one but Leonardo knew of the proposal. Not to mention, no one aside from the two of us knew of my agreement.

"Yeah, imagine that."

She stared at me for a long time, and then the corners of her lips pulled up in a controlled smile. "Do you really want marriage?" I was dole out a verbal assault of sorts. But she plunged onward before I could interrupt. "In my experience, it either ruins everything. Or it's only a means of gaining power. Men turn into unbelievable assholes as soon as it's done and signed," she muttered, hands clutching at her sides, "No matter their promises to the contrary."

Suddenly, I felt a pang of sympathy, for I had to remember that this wasn't my time. Women of her stature were almost always pawned off by their fathers to the man most likely to bring wealth and regard to the family at large. Their daughters simply a means to end, love served no purpose for them. "I didn't want it at first," I calmly replied, turning away from her, giving her the chance to compose herself. After a few moments and judging from the sounds of rustling behind me, she was taking a seat at the foot of the bed. "But he…convinced me. I'm not a noble, don't forget. Rather, an Assassin, just like him-"

"You really think you're so similar?" she cut me off, though it was more of a statement. I had a feeling the Lady of Forli rarely asked questions, so used to tossing out orders and having them immediately followed. Questions were for the weak and wavering, those unsure of their position in the world. Weakness is what got you killed. A sad, but true fact people learned sooner or later... and it's their luck if it's earlier than too late.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I snorted, my patience wearing thin. " My death count is the same, if not longer than his, our abilities are almost completely equal. I can keep up with him." The assumed "-unlike you." hung in the air. "So just please... back off. I know what I'm doing, and I don't need your pity or patronizing."

She looked at me with a bit more respect this time. Then she just shrugged her shoulders elegantly, moving to her feet as the doctor arrived.

I think the only reason she didn't look worried was because neither the doctor nor I showed any concern for Ezio's health, once he was all stitched up and bandaged. I remembered how fast he healed, and knew that some little wound in his stomach would only keep him back for a few weeks, at most. The doctor simply made sure he was stable, but said to call him again if anything happened.

What worried us more, however, was the absence of the priceless artifact he was supposed to retrieve...

"Is there still no sign of the Apple?" I asked tiredly, changing the subject after the doctor left. Ezio slept through the doctor dressing his wound. In a small way, I was glad of it, as there was no anesthesia quite yet.

"Niccolo went out with the search party hours ago, but I fear there is nothing to find," Caterina furrowed her brow, drumming her finger along the wall she stood next to the doorway. "My men did not remember seeing anything beside him except for that culo Orsi's body."

"Then we are in deep shit," I stated, my voice monotone. Caterina gave a small nod in agreement, and left the room without another word. I looked back to Ezio, sighing as I realized that his expression softened slightly under my caresses. And after a moment of thought, I suddenly broke into hysterical giggles, hiding my face in my hands as I laughed. "Jesus, Ezio... You almost died for it, and it's all for nothing." He didn't stir, though I was grateful for it, the words flying from my lips before I could stop myself.

"You're lucky you're unconscious, bello. Because when you wake up, God you're going to get it..."

There were many dreams... of different people. I didn't recognize the names, and I did not know their faces, but there they were... There was no order, no pattern. Lords and peasants, men and women of all ages, useless village idiots and recognized veterans. Some I felt a blood connection to, while others were strangers. Were these my ancestors? Or was it a simple coincidence? I didn't know...

There was a memory of a beautiful ball, where people dropped, grasping at their throats as the poison sunk in. There were dungeons and torture chambers and painful strikes. In a few of the flashes they held someone else in their arms and cried in either joy of birth or grief of death... There's a little girl being burned at the stake for her mother's sins, and there a thief hiding and protecting his treasures.

I'm watching. It's almost fascinating, the beautiful and strange stories my dreams told. As if I have read a thousand masterfully written novels. I never had dreams like these. Mine were nightmares tied to my unclosed past. But those were long since gone... so who were these people I dreamed of...?

The only thing that connected them, like a needle and string moving through hoops was a golden necklace they treasured more than their own lives...