I got down from the rooftops and headed for Albert's house. I knocked on the door and was surprised to see Grand Master opened it.
"Ah, Helen. Come in."
"Grand Master." I bowed my head in respect.
"I sat down at the table next to Uberto, who was drinking some wine.
"What happened? I thought they would all be arrested!"
"Ethan was running errands for his father when they came to arrest them. When the guards returned later to arrest him, he killed them. They were found at the Palazzo, dead, this morning."
I slammed my fist on the table and then got up.
"I'm going to search the city for him. He can't be far."
Grand Master nodded and sat down at the table, in the seat I just got up from.
Before I walked out of the house I heard Uberto speak so I stopped in my tracks to hear them, closing the door so that it seems that I left.
"Why do I know the truth about her mother but she doesn't?"
"She can never know. It's too dangerous."
I shrugged it off and walked through the front door as silently as I could.
I didn't give it much thought so I started to look around the city for Ethan.
I searched every street, every corner of the city but without luck. Someone must have helped him, there's no way he could have hid on his own. Unless he already fled the city.
I came back at Uberto's with an idea in my mind.
"Uberto, do you have any plans for tonight?"
"Yes, I'm supposed to go to an art show at Santa Croce. Why do you ask?"
"What would be the first thing you do after your family gets executed by the one you used to call 'friend'?"
"Flee town?"
"No, you idiot! Get revenge!"
Uberto stopped to think for a second before speaking up again. "I don't think he's that dumb. If he doesn't flee town he will end up dead."
"Perhaps. But do you really want to take that chance?"
"I don't care about what you have to say. I'm going. My presence is required as Gonfalionere. The decision is final."
"What are you even supposed to see there?"
"It's an art show, what do you expect? It's in the name!"
He sighed and poured himself a glass of wine. "Verocchio's latest work I think, I can't really remember."
"Of course you don't." I mumbled to myself.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. At least let me come with you."
"Do you have an invitation?"
"No, but if I'm the guest of the Gonfalionere I'm sure they will let me in."
He sighed again, looked down at the floor and then back at me.
"Get changed. They won't let you in wearing that."
I smiled and went home to get changed. I hid my dagger in a pocket on my boot, which was covered by a long, blue dress.
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I spotted Albert at the front of Santa Croce, and I was surprised to see Lorenzo de' Medici talking to him.
I approached them, keeping a safe distance so that I may hear what they are talking about without Lorenzo seeing me.
"Again with this?"
"You have overstepped your bounds, Uberto."
"Who are you to speak of bounds. You, who have crowned yourself Lorenzo de' Medici, Prince of Firenze."
"I've done no such thing."
"Of course not. Ever innocent. How convenient. At least now we see how far your reach extends - which is to say - nowhere at all. It has proved a valuable lesson for me and my allies."
"Yes. Your allies, the Jaspers. Is this what this is about?"
Hearing him say my last name made me want to throw up. How can such a powerful name be mentioned with so much hate?
"Be careful with your words, Lorenzo. You might attract the wrong sort of attention."
After that, they went silent. I followed them inside and watched as Uberto motioned towards me when he reached the guards at the entrance.
I walked inside with no problems and waited for any sign that Ethan might be here.
I was looking at a painting when I heard Uberto yell in shock and fear.
"You... Guards! Arrest him!"
I looked over to where Albert was and I tried to run towards him, but it was too late.
I saw Ethan stab him in the chest 5 times with the hidden blade before laying him down and saying a few last words to him.
He got up and looked at the crowd with anger in his eyes.
"The Auditores are not dead. I'm still here. Me! Ethan! Ethan Auditore!"
I tried to run towards him but the dress and the scared citizens who were trying to get out as fast as possible made it hard.
By the time I was out in the street he was already just a blur in the distance.
I sighed and then headed home.
When I walked through the door I noticed bags at the entrance and Lucas sitting at the table, waiting for me.
"There you are! We need to leave."
"What? What's going on?"
"Did you forget we're supposed to meet with father and uncle Alex in San Mano?"
"Oh... Right."
That's when he took a good look at me.
"What's with the dress?" he said chuckling.
"It was for the art show at Santa Croce. Uberto is dead."
"Go and change. Now!" He said while standing up.
"What about Ethan?"
"He will for sure go to his uncle's villa in Monfard, since it's the last family he has. Come on, if we hurry, we can catch him before he reaches the citadel."
I went to my room and changed faster than I have ever changed before and hurried to get to the horses.
Lucas was already up on his, waiting for me.
I mounted the horse and we started galloping towards San Mano without stopping.
I remembered the dream I had about my mother and I felt a threatening pool of tears in my eyes but I quickly shook my head in order to focus on what was more important.
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After a few hours of riding, we took a quick stop in San Mano so that Lucas could gather his troops and then we were off on the road again.
We saw the entrance of Manford, which, from the outside, seemed abandoned.
We stopped before reaching the citadel's gates in order to avoid detection and we let our horses go.
Me, Lucas and his men waited for what seemed hours before we saw three figures in the distance. Ethan, his mother and his sister.
"Good day Ethan! How could you leave Firenze without saying a proper goodbye?"
Of course my brother had to be cocky. As always.
Laura, Ethan's sister, turned around and looked at the men surrounding them.
"Ethan!"
He motioned for her and their mother to come closer to him, in an attempt to keep them safe.
"What do you want, Lucas?"
Ethan looked at me for a second and his eyes opened in fear after he recognized me as the person who threw his sword out of his hands.
"So many things. A larger palazzo, two new steeds, a prettier bride..."
I rolled my eyes as he continued.
"Oh and yes... your life."
I drew out my sword, ready to attack, but Lucas put a hand on my chest to stop me and shook his head when I looked at him confused.
Isn't it enough that he's a coward? Why do I have to look like one too?
I put my sword back in my sheath and watched as Ethan fought off half of our
men.
"My condolences for the loss of your father and brothers. What will happen now that there's no one left to help you? I have such wonderful things in store for your mother and sister."
I rolled my eyes again. I swear to God, this wise ass is going to get killed if he continues to be this cocky.
Ethan killed the last of our men and then looked at us.
"I grow tired of this game. Finish him! And do not spare the women!"
More men started charging at them but they were taken down by arrows. I looked around to see where they came from but saw no one.
We both drew out our swords and looked around again.
"What sorcery is this?"
"Not sorcery, boy. Skill!"
"Show yourself!"
"As you wish."
An older man appeared to Ethan's side and gave him a sword after shooting our swords from our hands.
I recognized him as the man who I saw in my dream, though there was something different about him. He had a scar across his left eye. Before I knew what I was doing I shouted at him.
"Mario?"
He looked at me with a mixed expression of confusion and shock, but then quickly regained control and started fighting our second wave of soldiers.
Lucas grabbed my hand and we started running. We grabbed a horse from Monfard's stables and he signaled me to mount it.
He got up in front of me and we started to gallop towards San Mano.
"Why did we flee? Why not fight?"
"Are you kidding me? We would have been dead if we stayed."
Maybe you would have, I thought as I wrapped my arms around his waist and got farther and farther away from the little town.
I saw father and uncle Alex waiting for us at the town's gates. We got down from the horse and walked towards them.
"Well?" Father asked, impatient as always.
"Your coward son decided to flee before we got the chance to even go near Ethan and what's left of his family."
Father looked at me with disgrace in his eyes, but when he looked at Lucas, they were full of pride.
"Come children. You must be hungry." Uncle Alex said.
I nodded and he led us inside the house that I saw in my dream. I have never been here before, so how could I have seen it in my dream?
"Father what is this place?" I asked while looking around.
"It was Gabriel's country-side house. But now that he's dead, guess it belongs to us." He said, laughing.
Why is he disrespecting the dead? I understand that the Auditores were our enemies but it's still wrong.
Something inside of me clicked and I felt like I needed to run through the door and go to Monfard but I stopped.
"Let me show you to your room, girl. You should get some rest."
Uncle Alex was always so nice to me, he is like a father. Ever since my mother died, father got more and more distant every day so I ran into the arms of work and my grand uncle.
I took my bag - which I left with my father when we came for troops - and went into the room uncle Alex showed me to.
It was the room I was told to go to in my dream. It was a small room, but I liked it.
I took off my armor and robes and put on my night wear.
I set my bag on the small table next to the bed, then I got under the sheets.
We failed and now Ethan is after us.
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