Hey all, sorry for such a long delay. If you are still reading this... THEN I LOVE YOU! : I appreciate all the reviews, favorites and views in general. I will be updating soon. We are getting closer to the end now! I will continue putting on the reviewers names, next chapter. I gotta go to work now! SO PLEASEEE ENJOY! Also: didn't really get much time to look over this for mistakes so let me know if it randomly cut off somewhere as this uploader tends to do that to me A LOT. Thank you all!

I crossed my room and hit the button on the fireplace and waited patiently as it quietly lowered. I ducked under and made my way to my study, grabbing a piece of paper and an inkpot as I went towards my desk. I settled down in my chair as I began to write:

Padre,

The wedding went over quite well. There was so many people that I was just itching for an escape; to hide away and read a book, or kick some templar ass. Whichever. My husband, Luca, is very young and foolish. He does not suspect a thing…

Borgia spoke to me at the dinner after my wedding and gave me the most peculiar look. Perhaps he knows more than we thought, or I know less. I will continue with my investigation on him and the Barbarigo's. Though, it may take longer than I would have liked.

Another interesting thing is that the head of my guard knows who I am.. who I really am. His name is Dante… I knew him as a child, he was meant to be my personal body guard when I was the daughter of the duke. Strange how fate works out, eh padre? I will continue to try and keep him quiet; I'm not exactly sure how but I will do whatever it takes.

Venezia is beautiful, padre, but it is not home. It's stench is also very repulsive but no one else seems to be bothered by it. I hope that I can grow used to it but I am doubting that. I miss you all very much. Tell everyone that I miss them and I hope that I will be able to see them again soon.

Much love,

A

I sealed the letter and dropped it into a hole in my wall. Antonio said that it came out at very secluded side of the palazzo and he would keep an eye on it for me. I stood there for a second to gather my thoughts before I went back into my room. There was a persistent knocking at my door and I glared at it as the fireplace lifted quietly back into place.

"What is it?" I said, irritated that the knocking did not stop after I did not answer.

'Maria, it is Dante… Please come out and talk to me. Your husband said that you might want to go to the marketplace today." I growled just lowly enough for me to hear before ripping the door open.

"Yes. I did want to go but I do not need an escort." I started to go past him but he grabbed my arm and it took all of my strength not to snap his wrist. I glared at him and he frowned.

"You cannot be serious. It is much too dangerous for a lady such as yourself to be out alone. Besides, I know that your parents never let you out, so you do not know your way around." I did not like the way he said parents but I nodded, he had a point. But I had things to do and they did not involve a certain templar guard.

"I can take care of myself." I said, stubborn as always.

"No, you cannot." Dante countered, as stubborn as me. I sighed. I could recall that we had been friendly rivals as children; two peas in a pod, as my padre might say. Our personalities were so alike that we clashed often. I knew that an argument between the two of us would go on for hours, so I would just have to prove it to him.

"My father trained me to protect myself, so I was never put in such a compromising position again. I promise, I will be fine."

"Prove it." I smiled as I turned and went down the stairs into our open foyer. This was going to be interesting, I almost felt sorry for Dante but that changed once I saw his smug face. I rolled my eyes as I positioned myself at one side of the foyer before I lifted my unarmed hands up in front of me. I was going to have to do this in a particular way. I could not win too quickly or that would arouse suspicion. I would have to take my time but I had something to prove. It was quite complicated.

Dante just laughed at my stance and my brow furrowed. "What?" I asked tersely, not appreciating the laughing.

"You want to fight me like that?" He pointed at my dress and my empty hands. He put his hand over his blue eyes as he laughed. I was getting annoyed by this point, who did he think he was?

"Why is that so surprising?" I asked and he laughed harder, failing to notice my ever-reddening face.

"Because I have a sword, shield and armor at my disposal and you, dear Aria, do not." I hissed when he said my name and I stormed up to him. I stared him down the best I could since I only came up to the tip of his nose.

"If you are so sure then fight me. If I win, you will never call me that name again." I was going into dangerous territory and Dante nodded solemnly, obviously not used to seeing my anger like that.

"Fine, if I win, then you will talk to me about this." Dante replied and I nodded, not liking the terms but deciding that there was no way in hell this templar guard could best me. No other templar has nver been able to before. I let my eyes move over his weapon, memorizing how long it was before moving my eyes to his armor, trying to find the weaknesses.

It was regular guardsmen armor; silver and shiny but no there was no real protection from a finely sharpened blade. I was unarmed, though so, I looked at the chinks in his armor. There was a unprotected spot right under his arm pit and another at the back of his knee and ankle. I sighed annoyed, as we circled each other, each sizing the other up. He raised his sword lazily and pointed it at me, with a small smirk.

"Just give up now, Aria." He drawled out my name on purpose, taunting me with it. Stupid boy, he didn't know the rage that I would bring down on him for such insolence. He swung out of nowhere, surprisingly a lot quicker than I expected; it was low so I jumped and watched in horror as a small sliver of my dress was cut off at the bottom by his sword. His sky blue eyes widened as I cleared his sword easily and he stepped back and began circling me again, sizing me up in a different light. Before I was just some rich noblewoman with no way to prevent attack, now, he could tell that there was something different. I wasn't sure if I liked that and I cursed myself for allowing this 'duel' to happen on my second day of my mission. I really did not know how I got myself in to these situations, I thought to myself as I shook my head.

I stopped circling and distributed my weight properly, preparing a counter move to take charge of his weapon. He held his sword in both hands now and he began to cleave downward toward me. I grabbed his hand and went under his arm until I was holding that hand behind his back in a way that he would never be able to get it out. I felt him struggle against me but I held him there.

"What were you saying about being unarmed?" I asked; my breath close to his ear and he blushed and sputtered. I didn't listen as I pulled his sword out of his hand and pushed him forward onto the floor with my foot.

He rushed back to his feet and watched as I passed the sword back and forth between my hands, testing its weight. A little too heavy for me, I decided before laying it softly on the ground behind me. I raised my fists to Dante again and he just sprinted at me, wrapping his arms around my waist in a fierce bear hug. I had tried to twist away from him but failed, resulting in him holding my back against his chest. I struggled in vain to get out of his tight grip but it was useless; I just was not physically strong enough to get away.

"See what I mean?" Dante reasoned with me as he held my waist. I hoped that my husband would come through the doors and see how he was holding me. Maybe then he would kick him out of the household. I frowned. No, I didn't want that… I saw what the Templars did to Jacopo and I feared for Dante's life, even though he was an enemy. "You may be good at disarming your opponent but you are helpless against brute strength."

I threw my head back the instant he finished his sentence and heard a very, very satisfying crunch and a low grunt. Dante dropped me immediately, gripping his now crimson nose and I landed on my butt. I grabbed the back of his knees and pulled, causing him to fall onto his back. I rolled out of the way and pulled him with me until the moment he fully hit the floor. Then I hopped on to him and pushed my knee into his lower back as I held his pretty blonde hair. I pushed his cheek against the floor and ignored the way his blood flowed steadily against it.

"I win." I breathed and he sighed, with the hint of a chuckle at the end of his breath.

"I do not think so." I started to reply but his arms were suddenly locked around my legs in a very inappropriate way as he flipped me over his head roughly, not pausing as my back hit the floor. I felt the air leave my lungs in a gust and my chest ached as I tried to catch my breath.

"You… Win." Dante flashed a bright grin to me as I gasped for air. I started pushing him off of my body, needing air faster than he was moving. The moment he rolled off my chest, I felt the sweet relief of air hit my throat and I rolled over to my side as I caught my breath.

"I always win." Dante murmured at my back, repeating three words that I had heard multiple times over my childhood. I huffed as I got up to my hands and knees, taking a deep breath before I pushed myself off the floor. He always won, I thought to myself in an almost childlike manner. I caught myself before the thought continued and turned back to him, wiping the sweat off of my brow.

"You did… adequate." I replied, ignoring the implication of his words. He grinned at my words as he gathered his sword from the ground. "I cannot help but feel that you may have cheated." I continued and he turned back to me with a incredulous expression on his face. "As usual." It was a stretch for me to joke with anyone, but something about it seemed natural between Dante and I. He studied me for a moment and smiled after a short time.

"I have to admit, Maria, you handled the situation much better than I could have foreseen." I gave him a half smile as he wiped the sweat and blood from his face. "Much different than the prissy little girl I once knew." I glared at him and he shrugged a little, knowing that he was pushing the limit. I wanted to know more about that little girl that I once was but talking about that was not an option. Dante ignored my warning glare and continued, "Of course, neither of us are children any more."

"Dante…" I growled and he gave me an easy smile, his eyes sparkling like water.

"What do you say, Aria? Come out to the market with me. You've been locked up for long enough." He was referring to my time with the Mancini and I sighed with relief, though I am sure that it sounded like exasperation to him, that he did not know my real purpose here.

"Perhaps…" I whispered and he grinned much more widely than before. I shook my head but his smile did not fade. "In an hour or so, if I am feeling up to it." He nodded as I started up the stairs. I looked back down at him. "You may want to get cleaned up, si?"

He saluted me before turning on one heel and leaving the room. I caught myself smiling as I continued up the stairway and shook my head as I entered my room. I felt different in those few moments of interaction between Dante and I; it was strange…I felt happy. I went to my window and leaned out over the edge. I watched an eagle circle from above as I dropped into pensive thought.

I dressed into a light blue, silk gown. It was simply made and I was able to move a little more freely in it than I was in the other dresses. I slipped a dagger in to the holder on my upper thigh before dropping my dresses skirt to see if it was inconspicuous. I touched the gem around my neck, letting my fingers barely graze over the gold chain that held it. A spark so slight shocked my finger but I ignored it before moving towards the door. I glanced at the looking glass as I passed it in the hall and stopped, surprised at how… normal I looked.

Dante was waiting near the door as I came down the steps slowly, still adjusting to the flat slip-ons I was wearing. I miss the hard leather of my boots and the way they hugged my ankles. One wrong move with these shoes and I could twist, or even worse, break my ankle. Dante watched me for a moment, something akin to sadness was in his eyes as he strolled out of the door and held it open for me.

"Where would you like to go first, la mia signora?" Dante asked very politely as he shut the door and locked it behind us. I shrugged, not really knowing where to start.

"How about the market?" I replied and started heading down a street. I heard a slight cough behind me and I turned to Dante. He was looking very pointedly down another street. I blushed, catching the hint and started down that path.

"Yes, of course it is this way." I spoke steadily as we continued onward. I could feel his smirk on my back and my face flushed in embarrassment. "I was just making sure you were paying attention."

Dante actually laughed at this and laughed even harder when I glared at him. "What ever you say, Aria."

Immediately, I took his arm and forced him into a solitary alleyway. I pushed him against the wall, ignoring the way his armor chimed against the stone. Dante studied me with intense, but wide eyes.

"Listen to me very carefully, Dante." I moved closer to his face until I could his breath on my cheeks. "You won that fight but I will break you if you ever call me that outside of our own company. Capito?"

Dante nodded but looked away. He looked back with a fierce gaze in his shimmering eyes. "What are you hiding from me, Ria?" I was shocked, hearing that nickname again. I had not heard it in so many years; it was strange to hear now. "Why are you so intent on hiding your heritage? You are meant to be a Duchess, not some lowly noble girl in Venezia."

"You think I want to be here?" I challenged, growing a little angry at him. He would not know who I meant and would assume I meant the Mancini but I continued anyway, "You think I would not rather be at home with my real family; people who actually care about me?" Dante started walking towards me now, backing me in to the wall.

"I just find it a little strange that you do not want the power of being Duchess."

"How dare you assume that you know what I have been through!" I argued. Out of nowhere, I thought to myself, this man had the power to undo me, if he truly wanted. He could use my memories against me, if he knew that I did not possess them myself. "If I went to my uncle, what do you think would happen? He is a kind and just man, this much I remember, and he would return my rightful power but who do you think is going to be in control of all that? Me?" I scoffed at him as I continued, "No, an idiota like Luca would be and think of all the people that would be abandoned for his selfish wants." I pointed a finger at Dante's chest, feeling a little more than justified in my thinking. "So do not pretend to know what is best for me."

Dante submitted to my wisdom and lowered his blonde head in defeat. "I am sorry, Ria… I just assumed you would want to go back to your home."

"Stop… calling me that." I teared up a little, a memory of my mother combing my hair and calling my Ria surfaced at the forefront of my mind. I hated the vulnerability it brought me. I wanted nothing to do with it. "Maria will suffice. Come, let's get to the market."

We continued in a strained silence. I could tell that Dante wanted to talk to me but I never gave him a chance and kept at least one step ahead of him. My steps stopped after I reach an edge of the streets and looked over a watery passage. Dante gave a sharp whistle and a gondola pulled in front of us. I stared at it, a little unsure. The boat did not look like it was very sturdy and I really did not want to swim in… that garbage and filth today. Dante stepped in first and held out his hand to me.

"Do you know how to swim, Maria?" Dante asked, with a slight smile to his lips. I considered to myself; a noble girl that would have been locked up all her life would not know how to swim.

"No.." I replied, rather shyly as I continued to look uncomfortable with the small gondola.

"Well, unless you want to learn today, there is no other way to the marketplace." I rolled my eyes at him and took his hand. He slowly helped me into the craft and smiled at me once I was onboard. "Era cosi difficile?"

"Oh, stai zitto." I snapped back as I sat down carefully. Dante laughed and told the man who steered the gondola where we wished to go. As he pushed us toward out destination, he began to hum to himself. Dante sat down beside me and smiled at me a little more. I stared in return, not sure how to handle all this.

"You look well, considering." He glanced at my arms, where a few scars were still revealed, as well as my hand. I covered it, not really wanting him to look at that any closer. "I wonder why he choose that finger…" Dante was staring at me intently, as if he knew something. He was a Templar, I reasoned. The art of our sacrifice was not so long ago changed, but would he know about it?

"It is not a happy memory, to tell you the truth. I can't remember much."

"Is that why you act so coldly to me?" Dante asked, looking sad and guilty all at the same time. "I looked for you, Ria. I tried to find you…"

"You would have just taken me back to hell." I replied and went quiet. I was kind of shocked at my choice of words. I had not intended to be so harsh but that was how it sounded.

"I would not have taken you back if that was not what you wanted." Dante replied, softly. I looked toward him, a little confused.

"Why? What would we do if we had not went back?"

He smiled brightly. "Any thing you wanted, of course. It is my duty to protect you. Not only that but to keep you happy. That was my destiny from the day I was born. It is no coincidence that we are together again." He said that like it was so simple. I frowned. My destiny was much different then he thought… and it would rip us apart, eventually.

"You would have given up all of this? Just to run away with me?" I asked, wondering why he would. He doesn't even know me anymore.

"Yes." I dropped the subject, feeling slightly sick at the thought. Would he follow me away from the Templars, if I asked him? More importantly, would he accept me as an Assassin?

The gondola pulled up to a small dock and Dante hopped off first before helping me onto firmer ground. I slipped, almost falling straight into the water but he caught my wrist and held me inches from it. I was glad that my shoes caught a grip on the side of the dock before I plunged in the dirty water and thanked Dante as he pulled me to safety. He nodded and paid the gondola man before we started walking further into the city.

We finally made it to the market, with some directions from Dante. I walked between the booths, looking at pretty and frivolous things with no real interest. I stopped at a booth that held a few harps. I eyed a dark, mahogany brown harp. I left mine at home; it was too cumbersome to take on the boat over to Venezia, so I left it reluctantly. I stroked the side as the seller watched me.

"A beautiful instrument for a beautiful woman, don't you think?" He said, with a slightly charming smile. Now this was a businessman if I had ever saw one. I asked him the price and passed over my address and the a fair amount of ducats. He promised to deliver the package to my home later in the evening.

"You passed over many fine dress stands for a harp? Why is that?" Dante asked as we sat on a bench in the middle of the market.

"I enjoy to play more than I enjoy what I am wearing. Dresses are not of much importance to me, since I never had anywhere to wear them to." I answered honestly. Plus, they were so annoying to wear but I kept that thought to myself.

Dante smiled. "There is the old Ria that I knew. I missed her, you know."

"If you are trying to flatter me; it is not working." I replied with a smirk and Dante laughed. After he calmed, he watched me with serious eyes.

"Are you happy with Luca?"

"Would you happy, if you were me?" I calmly said and Dante shook his head. "Why do you ask?"

"I told you." Dante said as he looked over the marketplace. "I just want you to be happy. And you do not seem happy here."

"I am happier knowing that I have someone I can trust." I said without really thinking about it. Dante smiled at me. It was a tender, slightly loving smile. Not one that a brother gives his sister… It was something else and it scared me. At the same time, I happened to spot Rosa across the square. She was staring right at me; it was the only reason I really noticed at all. She tilted her head slightly, indicating that she wanted to talk but alone. Dante started to say something else but I waved a hand in front of my face.

"It sure is hot out here." Dante nodded as I leaned back slightly. "Would you mind to fetch me a drink?"

"Yes, I will be right back." As soon as he was up and off through the crowd to find a drink stand, I stood and hurried over to Rosa.

"Making friends with the enemy, huh?" Rosa said casually as she threw a few grapes in her mouth.

"What do you need?" I asked, ignoring her. She gave me a cat-like grin before she walked around me until she was back in the same spot. I was not amused so I said, "Really. I haven't much time so tell me what you need to tell me." Rosa laughed at my impatience but leaned toward me. I did not move back or flinch away, like I am sure she hoped I would.

"Antonio wants to see you soon." She smiled. "Tonight, if you can pull yourself away from lover boy over there." I looked over and saw Dante waiting in line for a simple cup of clean water.

"That is my bodyguard, not my husband." I said and she actually laughed at me.

"I know." I raised an eyebrow at her, not really sure what she was getting at. "I've been watching you both. He seems to like you more than you think." She grinned again before turning and walked away casually as I felt a hand on my elbow.

"You should not associate with people like that, Ria." Dante whispered in my ear as he led me out of the marketplace. He placed the cup in my hands and turned me toward him when we were out of the busy street. "Thieves like her will rob you blind before you even know it."

"She was merely a beggar and I still have -" My hand floated on thin air when I reach for my coin purse. Heat rose to my face when I realized that the little snake stole all my money. Dante sighed and shook his head. I seethed as we went back to the docks and waited for a gondola. I wanted nothing but to ditch Dante and go find her. I would knock some sense in to her, next time that we met.

"Maria, you need to learn that you cannot trust everyone." Dante sighed at me and I almost laughed in his face. He was telling me about trust when he had no clue what things I planned behind his back. The next gondola pulled up and Luca happened to be on it.

"Well, fancy seeing you here, cara!" He said as he pulled me roughly on to the small boat. I almost flew straight into the water but caught myself before I went over. I huffed as I sat, not used to being pulled around like that. "Catch the next one, will you, Dante." He said before turning all his attention to the gondolier. Dante bowed his head but I met his eyes and shrugged. He just smiled as we pulled away.

"How has your day been, amore?" Luca said as he pulled me into his side.

"It has been all right." I answered quietly. He hugged me to him as he kissed my neck. I pulled away slightly, embarrassed that he would do this in front of the gondolier. He tightened his grip on me and I stopped moving. He nipped my neck and then my ear. I held my breath until he released me to get off of the gondola. He did not offer to help me up but the gondolier did and I avoided his eyes as I climbed onto the dock. Luca walked more than a few steps ahead of me, not waiting and not even seeing if I followed.

He knew I would, of course but still. I was annoyed by the time I got to the palazzo but he shut the door behind us and pulled me up to the bedroom. He pushed against me the door and kissed me hard. As he moved away from my mouth to my neck, I recognized a familiar smell. He had been at the bordello recently. I was disgusted but what was I to do? I could not deny my husband, no matter how much I wanted to. He was seventeen, I thought to myself. I remembered how… frisky, Ezio was at this age. Hormones were demanding to be satisfied and Luca was pulling me to the bed before pushing me on my stomach.

He was pushing my dress up my thighs but I stopped him momentarily, much to his displeasure. I told him I had a surprise. I went behind the dressing screen and threw off my knife, hiding it beneath some clothes. I pulled out a saucy pair of undergarments that Teodora bought me and pulled them on my body. The black lace made my scars stand out a little but I did not care. I needed a reason to be behind the screen to get my knife off and this was as good as any.

As I came back out, I leaned against the wall and looked at him with heavy lids. Luca was across the room in a few seconds and his hands were on my body quickly after. He pushed me back to the bed and on my stomach. I closed my eyes as he kissed the skin on my back and waited for this to be over as I thought of Ezio.

I awoke later in the night. Luca had wanted to stay up here all night and we missed dinner. My stomach growled but I ignored it. I stood from the bed and stretched before pulling on the lacy garments. I put on a thin silk robe quietly, as Luca slept. I did not bother to tie it, considering that no one would be awake at this hour. I stepped out of the room and started down the hall, towards my own. I was reaching for the knob to the room when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Ria?" I whirled around, not thinking about what I was wearing as I came face to face with Dante. "What are you doing out this lat-" Dante did not finish his sentence and as I looked at him in the barely lit hall, I realized that his eyes were drawn to my body. I did not move.

"I was going to my own room. Luca snores." I replied as I opened my door and slipped inside. I heard Dante whisper to himself before the door was completely shut,

"So many scars…"

I glanced in the looking glass in my room before I looked away. I felt disgusting. They truly were hideous but I had not expected Dante to say that. I shook my head; I had no time for self-pity. I pressed the button on my fireplace and went into my secret office. I pulled my black armor off of the mannequin and slipped it on. I pulled my hair out of my face as I lifted my hood and put the veil over my nose.

I walked back in to my room and pressed the button. I did not bother to watch it lift back into place as I walked to my balcony. I looked up and assessed the jump from my roof to another before beginning my assent upward. It was refreshing to work my muscles again. I needed to get out more often.

As I got to my roof, I made sure there were no archers up at this hour. The way was clear but I had to hurry in case Dante's nightly rounds brought him up this way. I lifted myself quietly to the roof before walking a few steps back and turning. I ran and leap over the gap and landed with a thud on the other side. The trip continued this way until I came to the Thieves Guild. I walked in, without knocking and saw that Rosa and Ugo were playing a card game.

"Salute, Aria!" Ugo said as I walked in. I removed the veil from my face and nodded at him.

"Salute, where is Antonio?" Rosa, who had been cleaning out from under her nails with her knife, pointed the tip towards his office and I nodded. As I neared the door, I turned and met her eyes. "I expect to get my money back, ladra." I heard her laugher as I entered Antonio's office. He grinned at me from across a miniature structure that greatly resembled my step-fathers home. Then I noticed Armando across the room.

"Armando! It is wonderful to see you again!"

"You as well, Aria. The new armor suits you." I grinned at him and looked to Antonio.

"Well, as you see we have a miniature Palazzo Seta here. Emilio and his family have been in power for far too long." Antonio said and smiled at me from across the small structure. "This is where you come in…"

Thank you for reading my story. Again, I apologize for the delay. FORGIVE ME! R&R.

AND I hope you all like Dante as a character, I enjoy writing him.

Translations: Not too many in this one that we haven't went over before.

Era cosi difficile? - Was that so hard?

Stai zitto - shut up.