Chapter 19

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, own Assassins Creed, Epirus bow or some of the dialogue from the game. I do own my own OCs, though!

It had been a couple weeks since our little group began to look for the elusive Piece of Eden - almost a month since Luca left Venezia and he was due back in another month. Dante, Nico and I kept up a vigilant search for the bow but had found no signs of it being in the city, which was extremely frustrating. We looked around the Eastern side of the city like I had wanted but even then, we found nothing. The two men kept searching every night and I joined them if I was not busy with Antonio or Rosa. We had almost reach our desired amount of ducati to begin to plan an attack on the Barbarigos.

I sighed as I stared at the map and all of our markings on it - it appeared that we searched the majority of the city and it's sewers. I rubbed my eyes and let out a little yawn, it was already dark out but Dante and I agreed that we needed one night for a break - Nico readily agreed to this plan and left to go to a tavern.

"Find anything else?" Dante asked as he came back into the library, holding two small cups of tea. I shook my head as I took the cup from him and took a petite sip.

"I'm not sure where else to look." I replied, frowning as I looked over the map again. I leaned back into my chair, wondering what I was going to do. Every day I was sick with the need to find the bow - it was calling to me more forcefully but I did not know how to get to it.

"You seemed stressed out, Aria." Dante said and smirked when I glanced over at him with a dull expression. "Would you like something a little stronger to drink? There was a nice bottle of strong, aged wine in the kitchen."

I thought for a moment before shrugging to myself and nodding at Dante. He smiled widely and left to grab the bottle and some glasses for us both. I stood from the table and turned away from the map - I was sick of looking at it by now and wondered into the dining room. Dante came back in, not surprised that I was in there and poured us both a glass of the white wine. I drank it down quickly, smiling at the sweet taste. I was more used to red wines and it was a nice change.

"I don't know what else to do, Dante. We've looked everywhere." I said as he poured us both another glass - I had not noticed that he drank his just as quickly as I did. He nodded as he sat the bottle down on the table.

"Quite frankly, I'm not quite sure what to do anymore than you are."

We drank a good while into the night and spoke of our childhood. Dante was happy to answer any questions that I had about it and told me of how his father was the protector for my mother from the society. The more we drank - the more we talked. We were laughing uproariously and stumbling around our words towards the end of the bottle. I was surprised that I had gotten so intoxicated by one bottle - it must have aged very well.

"Do you ever wonder what would have happened if your father had just paid off that slaver?" Dante asked out of the blue as we finished laughing about something stupid and immature. I looked up, my vision swimming slightly as I thought about it.

"My path was set for me before I was even born." I replied, before hiccupping and smiling shyly as Dante laughed at the noise. "From what you've said - I would have been sent to the society my tenth year and I know that I would have chosen the same path that I am on now." I took a drink of the last of the wine in my cup, happy and proud that I was able to say all that without sounding like an idiot.

"You mighta been a noble..lady like your madre." Dante said as he smiled goofily at me.

"L-look at where that got her!" I stuttered out, a little angrily but mostly hurting at the sudden onslaught of memories of her trying to defend herself and failing.

Suddenly, lips were smashed against my own in an annoying yet strangely nice way. My eyes widened at Dante's sudden intrusion of my space and I pushed him away, trying to miss the hurt in his blue eyes. "Why'd you do that?" I asked, scooting away from him - trying to shake the tingly feeling from my limbs. Trying to think about something other than my lips tingling from his kiss.

Dante reach over and touched my hands before pulling them into his own and pulling me over to him. I eyed him carefully and I wasn't exactly sure what he was planning on doing. "Aria, I've loved you since I was young and I thought I'd never see you again. I'm sorry I kissed you without asking." He blushed at that but continued, "But I don't regret it. I want you, Aria. I just haven't had the courage to tell you."

"So, be-because you can't find some damn courage means you can just invade my personal space like that?" I replied, sounding a little more flustered than I would have liked. Dante looked hurt at my reaction and I felt bad but I knew that I couldn't love Dante… Not when I already cared about someone else. I sighed as he looked away from me to the ground. "I'm sorry, Dante. I love you like a brother and I cannot give my heart to you because it has already been taken from me."

"I should have realized." Dante whispered and went to stand - probably to get away from me. I grabbed his hand as he walked away and he looked back at me with his sea blue eyes glistening with tears that he was refusing to let fall. I felt horrible about this but I couldn't allow him to think that there was ever a chance with me - as horrendous as that sounds.

"Will you forgive me, Dante?" I asked. I didn't want to lose my oldest friend when I had just found him.

"Always…" Dante replied before slowly taking his hand away and walking out of the room. I glanced at his full glass of wine and took it, drinking it down in two quick gulps. I sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose and laid down the glass with my other hand. I felt a tear slid down my cheek and I touched the offending object with the tips of my fingers before pulling them away to look at the tear. I wasn't sure why I was crying but I just felt horrible about the whole situation. I gathered my bearings and went to my room as quickly as possible.

I stayed in my room for the rest of the night. Dante never tried to get in or even knock to see if I was alright. In fact, I wasn't even sure if he was even in the palazzo anymore but I didn't dare venture out of my room to see. After my tears dried, my feelings turned to a strange anger at myself and I worked out vigorously in the small space I had. I was doing push ups when I felt a presence appear on my balcony.

"Aria?" Nico called into the room and I grunted in between push ups to let him know I was here. He came in and watched me push myself up over and over before coughing slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I huffed as I rolled onto my back and started doing sit ups as I counted silently to myself. Nico sighed as he looked down at me, watching me work out for a minute.

"That's what Dante said, too, but I am not stupid. You're both just insulting me now."

"I'm sorry." I replied, not really caring about what the boy said at the moment. Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen. I just wanted to keep my mind off what had happened.

"Something's happened between you both, hasn't it?" Nico questioned, not letting the issue go even as I growled a warning to him. The boy was too smart for his own good. "He's acting very depressed and is drinking at the tavern like a man with nothing to lose."

I ignored him and continued until I got to five and twenty push ups. I pushed myself up to my feet and began to practice sparing. I thought about what Nico said - I must have hurt Dante more than I had thought if he was acting like that. I knew a frown had fixated itself on my face when Nico frowned, shaking his head as he grabbed another candle to light my dark room. After he lit his candle with my lone candle, he moved to place it so he could keep his hands free. As he moved, I saw a spark of light when the light of the flame caught my necklace.

I kept sparing with the air until Nico caught one of my punches as I threw my fist out before locking his sky blue eyes on mine. I'm not sure why, but I kept thinking of that spark of light from my necklace. Minerva's face flashed by my eyes and she was pointing at my necklace and my eyes widened, causing Nico to look a little bemused at my expression.

"Oh." I whispered, mostly to myself but Nico heard and gave me the strangest look. "Oh!" I said again with much more enthusiasm before pushing past him and running into my office. I came back out a few moments later to a bewildered looking Nico - I had my maps in my hands and I thrust them into Nico's waiting hands. "Open these and hold them here." I commanded and Nico did as I said, not questioning me and letting his expression fade from confusion to curiosity. I grabbed the candle that he had recently lit and laid it beside the maps he was holding open. I took off my necklace carefully, not wanting to harm the chain that the precious gem hung from. I picked the candle back up and looked at Nico, not bothering to hide my excitement. He smiled back as I held the necklace over the flame, letting familiar yet unknown symbols cover the walls, ceiling and floors. At first, I wondered if maybe I had been mistaken but then the necklace began to slowly twirl, twisting the chain before it stopped. Nico and I had similar looks of anxiety on our faces - neither of us knew what had moved my necklace.

We looked back to the map and noticed a small star from the necklace falling onto a spot in the eastern side of the city. Nico and I stared at each other as I began to smile widely. "There it is." I said and Nico started laughing with a relieved look on his face.

"That's just amazing." He replied as he took my necklace and examined it before passing it back carefully. I clasped the necklace back onto my neck after marking the spot on the map. "I would have never have guessed." He looked over the map and at the spot I marked before smiling, "You were right about the eastern side of the city."

"Of course I was!" I said, laughing and feeling more light hearted than I had all day long.

"Let's get Dante and go!" Nico said excitedly and stood to go get him but frowned at the troubled look on my face. "What?" He asked.

"Let's just go - you and me." I replied, smiling up at Nico; hoping that he would agree because I really didn't feel comfortable being around Dante right now. He looked at me a little suspiciously before slowly nodding his head. I wasn't sure why he agreed with me but I wasn't about to ask so I went and changed into my robes before he changed his mind. He was sitting on my bed when I came back into the room and stood as he noticed me. I smiled and locked the door to my room before going to the balcony with Nico right behind me. We went to the rooftops and headed towards the mark on my map as quickly as we could. I could feel the anticipation and excitement building up inside of me as we got closer to the location. I was running once we got closer but Nico was keeping up well so I didn't really notice it.

We got to the location in great time - the pull inside of me was tugging me harder than it ever had; perhaps it knew that I was near as well. Nico and I searched the area for an underground entrance for a while before Nico stumbled onto one. He lifted the stone lid to the sewers and looked at me in disgust at the smell that was wafting up. I secured the veil on my face and it made it much easier to breath. I felt sorry for Nico, though - he didn't have a veil to mask the smells. I went down first, landing on a surprisingly firm stone. I whistled up to Nico and he dropped down a second later.

The area seemed very familiar, mirroring the underground place that I saw in my strange dreams. We went over plenty of obstacles and there were a few puzzles that we had to figure out before continuing on in some parts but we made it through the underground maze in good time. Nico insisted to walk a good few feet in front of me in case of traps but we didn't come across any. When we came to the grand, ornate door I smiled and looked over at Nico, who was marveling at it.

"I have to go in alone." I said. Nico looked at me with a worried expression on his face and I continued, "I'm not sure why I know this… I just need to go in alone." Nico nodded although it was clear that he was not happy about this by the stiffness of his jaw. I turned to the locked door, taking my necklace off for the second time tonight. I ran my fingers along the door before finding a softer spot of stone near the center. I looked at Nico before pressing the green gem of my necklace to the spot and pushing it into a small hole. The stone pushed the necklace back into my hands forcefully before a loud groaning noise came from the door. Nico pulled me away and I watched the door open from his side.

After it was fully open and we were sure that the ceiling wasn't going to fall in on us, Nico released me and allowed me to enter the room alone. You couldn't see much from outside the door because I had to turn and go down a short hall before entering into the room. It was just as I had seen it in my dream except that the statues were more intact. I could see the faces of the woman as they held each others sides. I ran my fingers across the silky robes, hanging and waiting for me to take them. It was definitely an older style of robes - like the ones on the statue of the old Grandmaster Altair underneath the Auditore Villa in Monteriggioni except that they were altered for a woman and black as night. The gauntlet that held an ancient hidden blade was highly decorated with beautiful engravings. It was much more beautiful in person than my dreams but I supposed I had been more focused on the bow.

Thinking of the bow, I felt a pulse go through my entire body and I took a deep breath with it. I looked over and saw the golden weapon laying on the alter, waiting for me to come and claim it. I walked to it slowly, looking over it and taking in its strange, unique features. Once I made it to the alter, I placed my hand on the bow without hesitation and gasped as a shudder went throughout my entire body. It felt like my entire being was on fire and I could not release the bow from my grasp nor did I want to.

You have come! The Epirus bow rejoiced as I held it. I clenched my teeth together, trying to get used to the feeling of fire flowing through my veins before groaning. Epirus noticed and lessened it's hold on me. I apologize for that - I was so lonely and had forgotten what a Humans touch was like. I gasped for breath as sweat poured down my body as I stared at the bow, not really sure what to say to it. You do not have to say a thing. The bow answered, hearing my thoughts. I am simply overjoyed to have a holder again.

"So you can speak to me?" I asked as the feeling of fire lessened and the cool air of the underground room touched my face. After I thought about it, it seemed like a stupid question but I felt the bows amusement. Of course I can. I am a Piece of Eden. It answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Do all Pieces speak as you do?" I asked, truly curious and amazed that I was holding a Piece of Eden in my hands. No. As far as I can tell - I am the only one with sentient thought. The others are powerful, yes but none can speak or feel as I do.

"Why?"

"Because that is how I created it." Minerva's voice came from behind me and I jumped, not expecting that at all. I turned towards her and was surprised to find her as a strange blue, see-through person. Minerva knew my thoughts and replied, "This is what my people call a hologram - it is a technology far beyond the Human races capacity to understand."

"Oh." I replied dumbly and I felt the bows amusement again. I wondered if I would always feel its emotions like that. "Minerva… What are you doing here?"

"I do not have the answer to that question." Minerva responded monotonously. I raised an eyebrow to that answer, feeling more confused by the second.

It is a recorded message, Aria. Epirus said but I didn't understand. Like a note on a piece of paper? I suppose you could consider it that way. The old ones are long gone. What interactions you have had with Minerva were put in place by her long ago before she perished.

"She's dead?" I asked as I looked at her blue, strange body. Minerva frowned at my words and I stepped away and bowed my head, not wishing to incur her wrath whether she was dead or not.

"I have moved on from this dimension to the next." She answered and now I just felt hopelessly confused. What is this talk of dimensions? Epirus answered this for me in terms that went way beyond my intelligence, Dimensions are measurable items, the variables of the universe. For example, space consists of three dimensions - length, breadth, and height - and time is referred to as the fourth dimension… Time is not just a linear flow. It is, more accurately, the dimension that brings physical motion into existence. There are twelve dimensions and - I cut Epirus off there with a sudden thought of please stop. I rubbed my temples; that was really too much to take in. What's next? The earth isn't the center of the universe? It's not, actually. I sighed, looking towards the ceiling but couldn't help but laugh. Of course it wasn't.

"There is a lot of things that is going to happen in your lifetime, Aria." Minerva said and I listened intently. "You must help the prophet find the Piece of Eden. I must get the message to Desmond."

"Desmond?" I asked but Minerva shook her head.

"I do not have time to go into specifics with you. I apologize for that." I nodded, understanding why she couldn't tell me everything now. "Epirus will help you protect the prophet and your ancestors." Minerva looked over her shoulder. "I must go now."

"Wait! Who is the prophet?" I asked desperately because even after my padre and I studied the codex, we did not know who it was. Minerva merely smiled at me before replying,

"You already know that." She vanished and I roared in frustration before kicked the wall beside me. Why did she always have to give answers like that - why not just be straightforward with me for once. That is simply how the ones who came before were. Epirus answered and I nodded to myself before pulling the bow over my shoulder. Nico was probably worried sick. I gently took the robes and folded them tightly into the bag hanging at my side. It was a little heavy but nothing I couldn't handle.

When I walked back out, Nico was nowhere to be seen and that worried me but I continued back to the entrance with the bow slung over my shoulder. As I was pulling myself to the surface, two sets of feet appeared in front of me. I looked up to find Nico, who looked worried and Dante, who glared down at me as he helped me the rest of the way up.

"Sorry I left, Aria. I heard you scream in that room but I was unable to enter. I went to get Dante." Nico said to me but his eyes did not leave the bow draped on my shoulder.

"How could you be so foolish, Aria!" Dante roared angrily and I could smell the whiskey on his breath. He hadn't seemed to notice the bow so I slid it off my shoulder and held it before him. His eyes widened and I could see the golden bow gleaming in his eyes before he shook his head and looked at me. "I guess I owe you an apology." His voice sounded monotone and forced. I gave him a little push. Epirus said to me and I gasped before thinking back - never use your powers over anyone again, please! I could feel the exasperation go through the bow to my body but it silently agreed. Dante shook his head as his eyes cleared. He looked confused, glancing around before his blue eyes fell back onto me. I could still see the hurt behind them when he looked at me but he masked his emotions well.

"So, this is it?" Dante said as he looked over the bow. He held up a hand like he was about to touch it but lowered it quickly, eying it as he looked back to me.

"Yes. This is Epirus." I said, kind of introducing the bow as if it were a person.

"Well, I suppose we will have to buy some arrows for you now." Dante said but I felt indignation from the bow at that statement. Hold the bowstring back taut. I did as the bow wanted and gaped when a very real arrow materialized as I pulled it back. The arrow glowed blue and I turned to a house with a wooden porch and aimed, allowing Epirus to help me aim and fired. The blue arrow flew the air so fast that I barely saw it impact the wood before shimmering away. Nico went over and ran a finger over the hole that was left before looking back to Dante and I with wonder in his eyes. "That's amazing." Dante said as we all stared at the bow, who was surging with pride in my hands. "We should get out of the streets and get the bow hidden in the safety of the palazzo." Dante said and we all went back quickly - Nico parted ways with us before we arrived back, leaving Dante and I alone.

We were passing the street that went to towards the Thieves guild when I heard Rosas voice, screaming and cussing. Dante and I glanced at each other before rushing down the alleyway to the Guild. I could hear Ugo as I approached and he was shouting orders to the others.

"Where is Antonio? Go get him! And clear some space for Rosa - get a blanket, some balsam, hot water, a sharp knife, bandages…" His voice trailed off as I assumed they moved inside. Ugo saw me as I walked in and nodded before running around the room, looking for everything he needed.

Antonio was already by Rosas' side, looking at the arrow going through her thigh, grimacing at it. "Get this thing out of my leg, dammit!" Rosa yelled as Antonio looked it over.

"Should we get a dottore?" A voice coming from someone that I had just noticed was there. Ezio Auditore was standing beside Rosa with a hand on her shoulder to keep her from jumping up.

"No time. I'll handle it." I said as I walked forward, coming to Rosas' side. Ezio turned, his eyes wide but a smile gracing his face as he watched me take off my veil and lower my hood. I nodded at him with a small smile - I wanted to give him a hug but Rosa came first. I glanced over her thigh as Rosa groaned. "Clean entry and exit through the thigh and it even missed the bone. You are quite lucky, Rosa." I smiled as Rosa sneered and gritted her teeth.

"Get it. The fuck. OUT!" She screamed and I chuckled as I turned to Antonio, who looked to Ugo and said,

"Get her something to bite on." Ugo nodded and gathered some padding, passing it to Antonio who in turn shoved it into Rosas mouth. She looked at him angrily but kept it in her mouth. I snapped off the arrows fletching - making Rosa flinch but she remained quiet and wrapped a cloth around the head of the arrow before soaking the points of entry and exit with balsam. Rosa and I made eye contact and I nodded before pulling quickly.

Rosa spit out the padding and began to scream and cuss me. "I'm sorry, Rosa." I said as I applied pressure to both points on her thigh.

"Go fuck yourself with your apologies, Aria!" Rosa yelled as Antonio held her down so she wouldn't try to pounce on me in anger. I glanced over at Ezio and smiled as she thrashed in Antonio's grips.

"Ezio, help me with this, will you?" Ezio nodded and came close to my side, touching my lower back casually as I continued, "Take those compresses and hold them on the wounds as soon as I remove my hands. I will be able to bandage her properly after that." Ezio obeyed and held his hands on Rosas upper thigh. He flushed, just enough for me to notice and kept his eyes away from Rosa, who was still cussing me. I elbowed Ezio aside and finished bandaged her leg before stepping back and looking at my work.

Antonio glanced over it as well. "Bene. You won't be scaling any battlements any time soon, but I think you'll make a full recovery."

"Just be patient, Rosa and it will heal correctly." I continued after Antonio finished speaking. Rosa turned toward me with fire in her gaze.

"You didn't have to hurt me so much, you clumsy cagna." Antonio chuckled and Rosa turned her anger and pain onto him. "Shut up, Antonio! I hope you catch the plague , you bastardo! You and your whore of a mother!"

"Take her inside," said Antonio, smiling at all of us as Rosa continued to cuss us all. He turned to Ugo, who smiled in relief that she was okay. "Go make sure she gets some rest. They carried the still-protesting Rosa up the stairs. Antonio turned back to Ezio and I - Dante was standing near the door and hadn't uttered a word since we had arrived - and smiled at Ezio, "Thank you for bringing her to us. That little bitch is most dear to me. If I had lost her -"

Ezio shrugged at Antonio and smirked over at me before replying, "I've always had a soft spot for damsels in distress."

I glared at him half-heartedly but I was too happy about seeing him to really care too much. I playfully shoved his shoulder but I barely moved him an inch and said, "Don't let Rosa hear you say that, Ezio!" He grinned at me as Antonio watched our antics with knowing eyes.

"Aria, I'd like to go check on Rosa. Would you fill Ezio in on what we have been planning this past few months. Perhaps we can get him in on a team to gather more ducati for our mission." I nodded and Antonio bowed politely before going up the stairs. I turned to Ezio to speak to him and was captured by his lips pressed against mine. I melted instantly and I felt the bow thrum in agitation of being pressed in between us like this. Ezio held me close after kissing me and just looked at me with his golden colored eyes with a small smile on his full lips.

I could feel Dante's pain from across the room and noticed when he left, even if Ezio did not. I felt bad because I hadn't wanted him to see that but as I looked up into Ezio's affectionate eyes I knew I made the right decision. Because there was only one person I cared about - that I loved and he was standing right in front of me.

A/N: This was a short one but I liked it :P Plus, EZIO'S BACK! :D I hope you all like the newest edition to the story. I also wanted to say that I noticed you can put a cover page for the story... I would love to have a picture of Aria and Ezio but I am artistically challenged and I cannot draw to save my life. If anyone wants to draw this I would love to have it! If I get more than one then I may have a little poll to see who gets to be the cover art. I would love for any artists help in this so please consider! Anyways going on. Also you may recognize some dialogue from the game - I took the liberties to twist it for my story.

Translations: I don't think there is anything I haven't had before.

Thanks to all the put my story on their alerts or favorites and a special thanks to the two that reviewed!

Nerdman3000 - I'm so glad that you like this story that much! I love the little bit of drama, too! :P

& KiriKatana - Ezio has arrived! :D hahah and I haven't played it in awhile either... I need to get back to that :p Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Thanks for reading! R&R! (PS. I edited this real quick before work. Lemme know if you see any mistakes Thanks loves)