Chapter 18

"Dante?" I asked as I looked up at the man with pale, blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. It was dark so it was a little hard to see him but I was for sure that it was him. I regretted speaking but I knew that it was necessary with him obviously saying Nemesis to get my attention.

"Dante?" The man repeated as he tilted his head at me as he smiled, looking a little amused. Only then did I realize that he was not quite as tall as Dante and he stood in a slightly different stance. "Ah, you've already met my brother, I see." His voice matched Dante's almost perfectly but it was not quite as deep. He stuck a hand towards me, deciding I was not a threat since I knew Dante and waited for me to shake his hand. I took it and shook gingerly as he introduced himself, "My name is Nico. Don't worry about confusing us - happens all the time."

I felt a little embarrassed for not realizing this was not Dante and I shuffled my feet as the young man spoke. After his last words, I looked up at him - wondering if I should keep my identity a secret for now or not.

"Your robes." I said, hesitantly and Nico smiled uncertainly as he looked down at them.

"What ? Did I get food on my robes?" Nico asked as he laughed and looked around at his spotless robe. He shrugged and continued, "This white is so hard to keep clean."

"No…" I mumbled, getting a little irritated at his light-hearted attitude but it was rather refreshing. "What sect of the Brotherhood are you from, Nico?"

He studied me for a long time before speaking, "From a sect far to the north. Though, we are far spread now." He walked around my body, trying to intimidate me - I suppose, but I stood in my place and kept my head held high. When he came back in my vision, he said, "My brothers and I are not Assassins like you. We serve only to protect what we are charged with."

"And what exactly are you protecting, brother?"

"I cannot and will not tell you."

"Why is that?"

"I only do what I am charged with and I am not charged with telling you anything." I sighed at the man and he smiled back, looking exactly like his older brother, Dante. He nodded understandingly at my expression. "I understand how frustrating that may be to hear."

"Is Dante a part of this sect as well?"

Nico's friendly smile faded as he watched me with bright eyes. "He hasn't told you?"

I shrugged, looking a little sheepish. I unhooked my veil and threw off my hood and looked at Nico. "I suppose I understand why he didn't since I have a few secrets of my own." Nico looked at my hair and then my eyes before kneeling on the ground in front of me. "What are you doing?" I asked, looking around to make sure no one was watching him bow down to me.

"Lady Aria, I apologize for my disrespectful attitude towards you." Nico said without looking up at me.

"Oh, stop that." I said, pulling my hood above my face and sinking into the shadows. This was rather embarrassing. Nico stood, looking reluctant to do so but he obeyed all the same. We didn't speak for a few moments because I was horribly embarrassed and annoyed at Nico for bowing to me like I was a queen or something.

Nico glanced at me before lowering his eyes, causing me to sigh again. "Dante is a part of I'protettori." I nodded thankfully at the knowledge of this sect of the brotherhood. The hidden blade and Dante's words started making more sense to me now. I looked up at the half moon in the sky and decided that Dante and I had some serious things to speak about once I got home. I did not care how late or early in the morning it was.

"Why did you bow to me, Nico? I am no longer a Dukes daughter to any extent."

"Because you are Aria d'Este. I don't remember you much from my past but they taught me of you in I'protettori." My brow creased as I considered his words. Why would anyone be taught of me - why was I deemed to be so special? Nico seemed to read my mind and continued, "Your birth was prophesized by the best of our seers and you will hold something very rare."

I pursed my lips as I contemplated about this so called prophecy. I wonder if that's what all these dreams from Minerva meant? I also wondered if I should tell Nico of these dreams or not. He apparently knew things that I could not comprehend but I kept the dreams to myself as I asked him, "Have you found the object that I am supposed to hold?"

Nico gave a slow shake of his head. "I've looked but I have no idea where it could be. It may not even be in the city."

"No, it's here in the city. Just perhaps… Perhaps it is underneath our feet." We both looked at the hard streets and he looked confused but seemed to want to help in any case.

"I will gladly take you when you discover the location, Lady Aria. I know my brother will as well."

"Stop the nonsense 'Lady Aria' stuff. I grow tired of it quickly." I laid my hand on Nico's shoulder and looked him in the eye. "Please, Nico - call me Aria. I've held you in my arms when you were a bambino. Don't be so formal."

Nico flushed slightly and grinned at me, looking a little foolish for his words to me. I couldn't help but smile at the young man. "I suppose I didn't even consider that, Aria."

I brushed off his words with a wave of my hand and turned back towards the cobbled street that I was going down. "Have you seen your brother thus far?" Nico shook his head, retorting that he had just arrived in the city. "Bene. Would you like to accompany me? He lives in my home."

Nico smiled gratefully and we set off towards my home in silence. Nico stayed behind me a bit and I stopped so I could walk beside him. Nico looked over and down at me, quite bashfully and said, "I'm glad he found you. We all thought you had died."

I did not look to him as I responded, "There are things worse than death." Nico frowned and ran a hand through his hair under the hood. I laughed at the familiar action that I had seen Dante do on many occasions. They seemed so alike it was almost as if they were twins but I could see the differences if I looked close enough. Where Dante was tall and had thick shoulders; his brother, Nico, was almost as tall but thinner - more lithe and graceful in his movements. Their eyes were also similar but Nicos' more almond shaped and were a darker shade of blue. I could also tell that under the hood Nicos' hair was much longer than Dantes'. I wondered if Dante kept his hair long when he was not disguised as a guard.

I shook my head. I could vaguely remember the young mans birth and holding him when I was young. It had been so long ago and my memory was still in fragments, piecing back together slowly. We didn't speak much but the trip was not so long.

"Dante!" I yelled once I closed my front door. A maid that had gotten up early walked into the foyer and her eyes widened at my outfit. I smiled at her and lowered my hood, causing her to sigh in relief and mumble to herself, 'crazy woman,' before walking into the dining room. Dante appeared through a doorway, looking disheveled and half-asleep. His eyes widened at the sight of his brother and even more so as he took in my own outfit.

"Che cosa l'inferno è qui?"Dante said loudly, looking like a mix between perplexed and annoyed. Nico lowered his head but I stuck my chin out defiantly.

"There are some things that you and I need to speak of, Dante."

"Si, I can see that." Dante said as he walked right up to me with an exasperated expression. He looked to his brother and his gaze softened. "Brother, it's good to see you again." They clasped arms in a show of affection as Nico replied,

"Always good to see you, Dante." Nico smiled at his brother and Dante returned the gesture. "Though, I had not expected to see you so soon." Dante nodded and looked at me with a small frown on his lips.

"There seems to be a lot of unexpected things happening right now." I nodded my agreement to his statement and he ran a hand through his hair as Nico had earlier. I smiled at the gesture. It was truly a miracle to have two people from my past here with me now. "Where should we start?" Dante murmured to himself.

"Let's start with I'protettori." I answered his rhetorical question and he looked over at Nico with an aggravated look on his face. Nico shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck in obvious discomfort but he was smiling a little. I tried to help bail him out of trouble by continuing, "I saw that your hidden blade said proteggere."

Dante seemed surprised and yet not surprised at the same time. "When did you see my hidden blade?"

I looked away, coughing awkwardly because I had technically spied on him. "I followed you over to that alley that night after Grimaldi's party. I wanted to help but you certainly had it all under control."

Dante nodded, a slight smirk came to his lips. "I should have known that you would follow me." He sighed as he looked around the room. "I need somewhere more private to speak of I'protettori."

I smiled brightly as I told them to follow me upstairs to my room. Nico was the last inside the room and he shut the door behind him. Dante began to speak but I held up a finger to him before turning to my fireplace and pressed the button that opened it. Nico and Dante looked impressed with it as I ducked down and went into my office. I went to my desk and sat down before propping both feet on the top of the desk. Dante and Nico sat down in the extra chairs I had in the room after looking around at the office.

Dante began immediately, "I'protettori is a society dedicated to protecting Pieces of Eden. A woman of your ancestral line found a certain Piece of Eden." I nodded, my mind floated to the Eprius Bow and I wondered if that was it. Dante looked at Nico and asked, "Would you like to tell her the story of the three sisters? It's not so fresh in my mind anymore."

Nico nodded and turned to me, clearing his throat before he began the long story. "Once there were three sisters. They had been abandoned as children by their parents and were taken in by a society of people that worked closely with Assassins from that point in time. This society was made of all types of people, mostly women and the men that protected them. There was courtesans, noblewomen in training and even Assassins." At my incredulous look, Nico smiled. "I realize how strange it seems for women of noble stature to be with whores and assassins but this place was a type of school for women to grow and flourish.

"Anyways, the three sisters did indeed flourish under the tutelage of the society before finally deciding their own paths. The youngest, skilled in coercion and very easy on the eyes became a courtesan. She was considered the best of the best. Men would be honored if she came to them. The middle child was much more quiet and reserved - though, she too, was good at coercing people to do what she wished. She eventually moved into the noblewomen in trainings quarters and became a very sophisticated and accomplished woman. The eldest and the most important woman to ever grace our society became an Assassin. Being the eldest over two young sisters; she had learned how to take care of the three of them since they had been abandoned by their parents. She was tossed into the world of adulthood before she was meant to be but she prospered at whatever she set her mind to. This woman, with the aid of her two sisters, found a Piece of Eden - a bow, precisely, beneath a city that they had all been stationed in after she began to dream of it.

"Despite finding this Piece of Eden, she was still confused. She recalled to the society that a strange looking woman had approached her in the ruins and spoke to her of the future. She was told that an ancestor of hers would carry this bow but no one before her would be able. The Assassin was obviously annoyed at finding a sacred weapon and not being able to use it but she bowed to the benevolent woman that came before her and promised to always protect it."

Dante and Nico watched me in silence after they finished the story. I contemplated the story. It all seemed so far fetched and had I not been dreaming of Minerva and this bow, I would not have even believed the story. I knew that I had to find it now because I was the only one that would be able to wield it and it would become a great asset for the Assassins against the Templars. I stood, ignoring the two men and went to a cabinet in the room. I pulled out a map of the city and the tunnels that twisted underneath it and laid them both across my large desk, using heavier objects to hold all the edges down.

"Where could it possibly be?" I mumbled as I looked over the maps. Dante and Nico leaned over the desk to see the maps as well. "Have you searched this city at all for the Epirus Bow?"

"Epirus?" Dante asked, his eyes widened in surprise and I sighed at the two men.

"I've dreamt of this legendary bow already. It's here in the city… There's a locked door that I'm not sure how to get past but it was underground."

"But it told you it's name?" Nico asked, his voice full of wonder as he looked up from the map to me.

"Yes." I replied, feeling annoyed because I thought I had made that point obvious to the two of them.

"Just like the Assassin said." Nico said, looking to Dante with a very serious expression on his face. Dante nodded to his brother, answering a silent question that only brothers could ask one another.

Dante turned toward me again and began, "The woman Assassin from so long ago said that the strange being in the ruins told her that it would tell her ancestors it's own name and that's how we would know that it has chosen."

"Chosen what?" I asked but I felt like I knew somewhere deep down in my heart.

"The one who will wield the bow of power. This is not just some bow - this is a Piece of Eden. A very powerful Piece of Eden. Rumors hold that it may even know the locations of the other pieces. If found by the right person… Well, it could change history as we know it."

"And you both are here to protect me?" I asked, putting two and two together.

"We shall protect you forevermore." Dante replied with a proud tone to his voice as he bowed his head toward me in respect. His eyes twinkled at me as he continued, "I told you before, Aria. It was fate that brought me back to you."

"But what if I don't want any protectors?" I asked, feeling rebellious and independent. I was a strong woman and if I held a Piece of Eden - I think I could protect myself.

Dante shook his head, "It's more than just protecting your body, Aria. Good honorable men have been turned to darkness because of the sheer power they exert with the pieces."

"To be honest," Nico continued after Dante had finished, "It's really a matter of protection for everyone else. There has been many traitors to our cause just because the Piece of Eden corrupted their mind and judgment."

I calmed down from being overly independent and nodded at the sense of their words. I did not want to become corrupt but if it happened, I would want someone to stop me for good. "Then are you ready to do what is necessary?" I asked, ignoring Nico for a moment because I was not very close with him and stared at Dante.

"What do you mean?" Dante asked, never taking his eyes away from my own.

"I mean will you be ready to strike me down if I lose my ability to think for myself - if I can no longer control my actions."

"I…" Dante looked at me and his gaze seemed to be full of pain at the thought. "Of course, Aria. It would kill me but I know it's what you would want."

"It truly is." I answered softly. "I don't think it will happen but we must always plan ahead." I yawned widely all of the sudden and blushed at the two men as they watched me. "Well, I suppose I may be a little tired."

"But what of my questions for you?" Dante asked as I started to stand and leave my desk. I sat back down and smiled sheepishly.

"I had forgotten." I replied honestly and Nico gave a low chuckle as Dante shook his head with an amused look on his face.

"They won't take long."

"Go ahead." I asked and waved my hand for him to begin asking me so I could hurry to bed. I might fall asleep here on this desk.

"What happened to you?" Dante asked, sitting straighter in his seat. "You were supposed to be dead and suddenly you're here, as an Assassin?"

I nodded. "It's a long story but essentially, the slaver took me to Toscana, I escaped him - kind of - and I met Mario Auditore there. He is my adoptive padre now - I, also, go by Aria Auditore. He began to train me when I was old enough, making sure I was well protected before asking if I would like to join the Order and take his place once he is gone.

"I agreed, of course. I love Mario; he has always been so good and kind to me. Anyways, this marriage has been planned for a long time so we could infiltrate the Templars in a way that they would not be expecting. Ezio should be here soon to help with the investigations."

"Ezio?" Dante asked.

"Ezio Auditore. He is Mario's nipote."

"Ah, why is he coming here?"

"He has been tracking these Templars down with me for a few years now. We're a team." I laughed to myself as I thought about my words. A few years ago, I was a lone Assassin. I didn't need anyone and they didn't need me but now… I wanted to be apart of a team, as long as Ezio was there. We made the other stronger and we worked well together on the battlefield. I missed him as well but it was hard to admit that, even to myself.

Nico coughed as he stood, "I am going to go get a room to stay for awhile. What will you both be doing today?"

Dante and I stood, as well and looked at one another. I stifled a yawn and he smiled before turning back to his brother. "I think we should all get some rest and meet back up tonight to begin our search."

I shook my head at the two of them. "I have things to do with Antonio and the thieves guild. I want you both to search without me."

"Aria, I'm not leaving you alone." Dante retorted, looking annoyed with me again.

"I don't care what you think you're going to do." I replied, turning my voice to a cold steely sound. "I am an Assassin and I don't need your help. Besides, I will be with loyal allies and will not be harmed. If I am, then they will take care of me." Dante looked away, defeated for the moment because he was so tired but I knew he would be back at it after getting some sleep. I softened my tone and looked to my old friend, "I'll go with you both once I finish with some of my responsibilities. Just because this bow needs to be found doesn't mean that I will forgo my duties to the Assassins. Besides, it's not like we don't have much time to find it or something."

"We'll talk more tomorrow." Dante replied stiffly and walked out with his brother after Nico bid me a farewell. I rubbed my head after I heard the door in my room close and mumbled to myself. I was surely going crazy with all this new information and the need to find the bow burned inside of me deeply, I yearned to go find it but I had other things to do - like sleep. I stripped off my robes and went straight to my bed. I sighed as I lowered my tired head to the pillows and drifted off to sleep soon after.

I roused myself from bed the next afternoon. I was not so surprised that I slept so late last night since I really had been up all night. I dressed in pants and a shirt, not caring about my appearance since now Dante knew exactly who I was and went downstairs to find some food. As I walked through the dining room to the kitchen, I found that Dante was already awake and eating.

"Buongiorno." I said and he looked up quickly before swallowing and smiling at me.

"Mattinato you as well, Aria. Did you sleep well?"

"Si, I did. I wish had not slept so late now, though. I feel so tired." I replied as I collapsed in a chair on the opposite side of the table and waited for breakfast to come to me.

"Well, rest up today. We have much to do tonight." I nodded but did not answer because a maid put my breakfast in front of me. I dug in immediately, dropping my usual noblewoman eating style. Dante's eyes widened as I destroyed my food quickly, hardly bothering with silverware. His eyes caught mine just as I shoving a piece of bread in my mouth. "Whut?" I asked with my mouth full and I looked away to swallow the huge portion in my mouth.

Dante began to laugh as I smiled, trying to cover up my embarrassment for eating like a pig. I was so hungry, though! "Honestly, I don't know how you cover up your atrocious table manners in front of Luca." He chuckled and took a dainty sip of his tea. I grinned and grabbed my own tea and downed the entire hot substance in seconds. I stuck out my tongue at him before take a big bite of eggs.

I stood from the table after I was finished and walked out without saying anything to Dante. I went to our entrance room and sat on the floor with my legs crossed. Dante followed a bit later. He didn't want to waste any of his food and insult the maids. "What are you doing?"

I opened one eye and looked up at him. "What's it look like? I'm meditating."

"Right here?" Dante asked, looking around. Surely there was a place with a rug for her to meditate more comfortably.

"No, I like this open space. I cannot relax if I'm in a small room." I grew quiet again but felt Dante sit on the ground next to me. I glanced over at him and he was sitting the same way I was, trying to meditate but fidgeting horribly. I laughed and he opened his eyes and smiled at me.

"May I ask you a question?"

"You just did." I countered, keeping my eyes closed and trying to clear my mind.

"Oh…" Dante said quietly before speaking up again. "May I ask you two questions, then?" He sounded to smug and victorious but I just laughed, already having the best come back in my mind.

"You already have." I varied my words from a few moments earlier and Dante cursed but laughed with gusto at my attempt of humor. I decided to give him a break as I turned toward him completely. "What is it?"

"You said you kind of escaped the slaver. What does that even mean?"

"I figured you would ask eventually." I replied and stretched out before laying back on the floor. I stared at the ceiling as I spoke to him, "I think you already know, though. You've seen my scars and I told you I was violated."

"I… I didn't realize."

"Nessun problema." I replied and rolled on my side to look at him. "I lost my memories, you know. A year ago, I had no idea you even existed or who I was. They came back with the strange dreams."

"You couldn't remember… anything?" Dante asked, looking a little disappointed with that.

"Not a thing. I would have glimpses of my mother as a child but those faded with time."

"That's horrible. I wish I could have found you sooner." Dante looked at the floor, his hands, everywhere but me in shame. I understood where he was coming from. He felt like he failed me but it was meant to happen. We had no choice in what happened.

"I try not to deal in wishes or what ifs, Dante. What's happened was meant to happen. We should just be glad that fate decided to reunite us." I tried to be reassuring but I wasn't sure if it worked. Dante smiled and began to speak but a loud, slightly obnoxious knock came from the door. I groaned quietly as I stood and started ascending the stairs to go to my room to change clothes. I could hear Dante answer the door downstairs and the voice that accompanied his made my heart sink. I didn't want to deal with that today.

I changed quickly and braided my hair down my back before brushing away the strands of hair that decided to rebel and stick back out. I left my room and came to the stairs, looking down at my guest and Dante.

"Oh, Isabelle! I had wondered when you would call on me. I've been dying to spend some time with you." I called out and she looked up the stairs at me with a fake smile on her ruby red lips.

Isabelle sneered but played along as I came down the stairs. "Of course, Maria! I could not forget my newest and best friend." Dante just looked back and forth between us, looking mystified and a little bewildered at the tension in the room. Isabelle looked around before asking, "Is Luca home?"

"No, it saddens me to say that he is going to be gone for a few months."

"He just left you here with this -" Isabelle looked up and down Dantes body, who stiffened uncomfortably at being studied like this before she licked her lips and looked back to me. "This very handsome guard." Now Dante was blushing horribly and was trying to stare at the opposite wall as if this conversation wasn't about him.

I held out an arm and she linked her own with mine as we walked to the library. It was the best room in the house at the moment to entertain guests. "How did you get so lucky, Maria?" Isabelle said lowly as she glanced back at Dante, biting her lip. "Lui e molto bello." I glanced back at Dante. I hadn't ever really thought about him being handsome before - Never considered it but now, I could see what she meant. He was extremely handsome but I wouldn't admit anything to her. The snake would just use it against me.

"I suppose he is but I only have eyes for my Luca."

I saw a flicker of anger pass over her features and she hid it well but she wasn't fast enough to hide it from me. So, she didn't like thinking about me and Luca - good to know. Isabelle winked at me, after her slip in composure, thinking that I was being untruthful. Which I was but not in the way that she thought. "Whatever you say."

"Isabelle!" I gasped while she laughed maliciously. "I would never be unfaithful to Luca."

"Don't you wish you could say the same for him." Isabelle said heatedly as she pulled her arm away from me since Dante was out of sight. "I bet you didn't know that he came crawling back to me after your pathetic honeymoon." I just rose my brow at her and let her continue. It kind of hurt my feelings to hear that but I pushed it out of my mind. "And after you left my party, I snuck off with him and we made love all night long." When I did not react or reply to her words, she continued, "Did you make love with him that night? How did I taste, cagna?"

"Isabelle." I said quietly, giving her my best Assassin look - the look I give my targets before I kill them. She visibly shuddered at my gaze and backed away from me, shrinking in to herself unconsciously. "Get out of my home before I go find Grimaldi and tell him of your discretions."

Isabelle snorted, trying to act she wasn't afraid at my sudden change in personality but the fear was radiating off of her in waves. "It's not as if he would believe you. The old man is too in love with my body to betray me now."

"Get. Out." I ground out, looking at her and imagining her death in horrible ways. Dante ventured into the room at that time and took notice of the deadly look on my face. "Escort her from the premises, Dante." I said, with some difficulty and he nodded, still looking a little confounded at the situation and how quickly it had gotten out of hand. We had only been out of his sight for a minute or two. When Isabelle and Dante disappeared from the room, I growled and hit the stone wall with my fist. I regretted it instantly and cradled my sore, perhaps broken, hand against me and took deep breaths. I wasn't sure why I had gotten so angry but no one talks me like that. I am Aria d' fucking este turned Auditore and I was not treated as such. If I had not been on a mission, the puttana would be dead the moment the words left her filthy mouth. I sighed - so much for telling Dante that I did not dwell in what ifs.

Dante came back with a puzzled expression still on his face. He looked back towards the front room and asked, "What just happened?"

"She decided to tell me how horrible of a lover I am and how Luca comes back to her frequently." Dantes eyes widened and he grimaced as I continued, "Then she asked how she tasted." Dante looked so surprised as he whispered back,

"She didn't…"

"She did!" I answered and Dante sighed, sitting down in the chair. He ran a hand through his hair and began to laugh at me. The rage inside of me dwindled at the sound but I snapped at him regardless, "What?"

Dante ceased laughing but a smile still tugged at his lips as he looked at me. "Nothing - it's just… I was only away from you both for a minute!"

"A lot of things could happen in a minute." I answered, trying not to give into his cheery outlook of the situation but I could feel the smile on my lips as well. "If you had given me just one more minute than she could have been dead."

"I'll try to remember that next time." Dante replied as he looked to my hand. He gestured to see it and I held it out to him. He rubbed my tender knuckles, making sure that they were not broken and nodded at me after he was done. "They should be fine. Did she really make you so angry to hit a poor, defenseless wall?"

I scowled at him and smacked him in the back of the head with my good hand. "Better the wall then your face."

Dante rubbed the back of his head but smiled still. "You're so right. I would hate to lose my charming good looks." I rolled my eyes but smiled at him evilly.

"You know, Isabelle wanted you so badly. She was very jealous that I got you all to myself." Dante shivered in disgust at the thought of Isabelle wanted him but blushed when I mentioned having him all to myself. I berated myself silently because I did not want to lead him on in any way, shape or form.

Dante thought for a moment and grew serious. "We better watch out for her. She spreads more rumors faster than any woman I have ever seen."

I waved a hand, dismissing the thought but at the same time, I wondered just what kind of rumor she would start about Dante and I. We dropped the subject and I went to the kitchen to fetch some ice to put on my sore hand.

Later that night, I met Dante on the stairs. I was in my black robes but my veil was not hooked to cover my face yet. I looked Dante up and down, checking out his robes and studying his weapons. He wore different armor than I was used to seeing. The robes looked like an older style that I had seen older Assassins sporting from time to time. The edge of the robe went down past his knees but he had armored boots and a steel cuirass as well as steel gauntlets. It appeared that his hidden blade was built into the steel bracers of his armor. He also still had a long sword hanging at his waist and a small shield on his back. It was obvious to me that he was trained in a different style of fighting than I was. I glanced at my own black leather cuirass and armor - maybe it would be handy to learn to fight carrying that much metal. I thought back to my dream and wondered how heavy that mysterious metal of the armor was.

I grabbed an easy book for Rosa to practice with from the library, even though she said she had one. It was just in case that one was too hard. I stuck it into a small bag at my hip as well as some small maps. We went through the window room from my private room and climbed to the roof. Dante and I were both unsurprised to see Nico waiting for us there.

"Buona sera!" Nico greeted us in good spirits and Dante patted his brother on the back as he passed him and I smiled at him.

"Salute, Nico. How are you?"

"Well-rested and ready to begin, Aria."

"Bene." Dante turned back to us and I pulled out some smaller maps from my bag. "I want you each to take one of these. Try to find a way to mark a place that you have already searched."

They nodded and began to walk away before I asked them to wait a moment. I walked forward and put a hand on each of their shoulders, looking them in their blue eyes. "Safety and peace, brothers."

They nodded and reiterated my words back to me. I waved goodbye as they took off over rooftops. I stayed and watched Dante jump to another rooftop - I was very interested to see how well he moved in his heavy armor. He continued swiftly and I smiled at how graceful he moved, it was as if he did not even wear armor.

I turned and went toward the Guild, ready to begin my lessons with Rosa. After dealing with Isabelle, Rosa would be a walk in the park. I didn't realize I would be eating my words later.

"Rosa!" I called once I entered the headquarters. Ugo and some of the other men looked surprised since they were used to us not getting along and barely speaking. Rosa came down the stairs swiftly and kept something hidden behind her back.

"There's a perfect wall for us to begin your training on right outside. I already told Antonio that we would be busy tonight." I nodded and went outside with Rosa hot on my heels. Once we came to the deserted courtyard, she pulled a thin book out from behind her back. She passed it over to me and I was slightly surprised. Books were still rather rare and hard to come back if you did not have much money. "It's what they found in my cradle at the orphanage. That's all that I have left of my parents now."

I opened the stiff, dry pages and flipped through the small book. It seemed to be a childrens story. When I got to the front of the note, I realized that a note had been written on it.

I began to read the note to Rosa,

"My sweet little Rosa, I wish I could see you as you grow but I am afraid that I cannot. As a courtesan, I barely have money to support myself, let alone a little girl. I brought you here in the hopes that you would have a better life than I. I know you're wondering about your father but I cannot tell you his name, for your protection. He is a nobleman and he threatened to have you killed if you came and tried to take his fortune away from his wife's children. I'm sorry for everything and though you might hate me… I love you.

I looked over at Rosa to see her reaction to the letter that she had always kept but never knew what it said. Her lips were down in frown and her expression was brooding. She shook her head and turned towards a wall that she climbed often. "I will show you this once. I don't like to repeat myself." I nodded and watched her attentively. She scurried up the wall faster than I could have imagined and came to a gap in the wall. Rosa paused, took a long and loud breath before launching herself upward to the next handhold. She dropped back down, catching herself on the previous handhold and turned her head to me, explaining the move and how to execute it.

We worked on it for an hour or two into the night but soon it was too dark for me to practice so Rosa and I went inside to her room and settled down on the floor beside one another and began to work on her reading. I taught her how to recognize the letters and even showed her how to write a few. I figured reading and writing went hand and hand so I taught her the best I could.

When I left Rosa that night, she was reading and writing small words and my arms were sore from the workout. I left her with an assignment to study and to write any questions down that she may have for me. Surprisingly, as I went to leave her room, she grabbed my elbow and held me there. I turned back to her with a questioning look on my face. "Thank you for reading that letter to me. You have no idea how much it means to me." I nodded and twisted my arm so that I was holding hers as well.

"Anytime, Rosa." She smiled and I returned the smile then left the guild, stopping to say goodnight to Antonio and Ugo as I passed.

I practiced getting to the rooftop the way Rosa taught me but ultimately failed and used the ladder. I walked most of the way back, only running and jumping when I ran out of roof to walk upon. As I grew closer to my home, I noticed Dante and Nico were both awaiting me.

"Did you find anything?" I asked hopefully but I knew that it would be near impossible for them to find something so soon. They both shook their heads and passed me the maps, all the places they checked marked off in some way or another. "Good job tonight. We'll find it eventually." I praised, hoping to elevate their moods. It worked a little, mostly on Dante. Nico just looked exhausted so I sent him off and went inside after Dante. We said our goodnights and I went to my office to look at the maps for a while. My eyes kept being pulled back to the eastern side of the city and I decided that I would help them check next time.

A/N: Thanks for reading the newest installment of the story. I'm really starting to get into the plot intended for this story and just so you all know, I do plan on taking this all the way to the end of AC2 - with the dlc stuff(battle of forli?) and everything like that. It may be getting hard to follow but bear with me, this will all make more sense soon! Also:::: I updated like 3 times in a week or two :| This is unheard of. lol. I'll be busy this weekend and next week but I may be able to get some time to write, if not, a new update will be in a few weeks. I tried not to leave a cliffhanger since I don't know when I'll be back.

Translations:

bambino - baby

Toscana - Tuscany

Buongiorno - Good Morning.

Mattina - Morning.

Nessun problema - no worries/no problem.

Lui e molto bello - He is very handsome.

cagna - bitch.

Buona sera - Good evening.

Thank you everyone that reviewed, favorited and alerted this story. You have no idea how much it means to me!

painstakinglyclear - muahaha. I tried to build it up like it was but Aria is so surprised about Nico because she hasn't seen him in years and as Dantes brother, he's taken on much of the same appearance.

xXspidercatXx - I hope you liked it :P

Nerdman3000 - Thanks, hope you thought this one was good as well!

anonny - Aww :D I love that you love this, lol.

Maple Syrup - Hehe, I hope this was a quick enough update :P

lauren - I'm glad you enjoyed it :) Thanks for reading my story!

Chaaaa (x2) - Thanks for reading, hope you liked this chapter as well. :D