"No! Basilio, come back!" Amaranta fell to her knees in a fit of sobs, wailing into the midnight air. The moon shone brightly above the city, casting a mysterious glow upon the fleeing figure.
I fled that night, away from my family and the home I knew and loved. I ran from my childhood, to keep my treasured ones safe. I made a mistake, a huge mistake. This is my story, truth be told. Vi prego, ascoltate la mia storia.
"Basilio! Amadeo! See that man, weaving through the crowd of people near the pope over there? That is the famous Ezio Auditore, the one they all look for," My good friend, Agapito, smirked behind his hand. He had tanned skin, slightly scarred from his brush with death a few years back when a plague crept through the villa. Many men were jealous for his sweeping black hair and sharp, charming features. I, fortunately enough, am related to him, and we're often mistaken as brothers instead of cousins.
"Ah, him. I see, the cape, the hood, the quiet - stepping leather boots. Yes, he is quite a trickster. Shouldn't we inform the guards? They are looking for him." Amadeo inquired, furrowing his bushy brown eyebrows and scratching his head.
"No, no, my friend. He is here to assassinate the people of importance, who are we to interfere? I never favored Archbishop Baldassare anyways." Agapito shrugged.
I thought of my friend's heartless words for a moment, how cold they seemed. I didn't know Agapito thought like that.
" Figlio di Puttana!" I burst out as the assassin ran for the Archbishop, his medici cape fluttering behind him in the wind. How could I stand and watch it happen? I didn't 'favour' the Archbishop, but I did not want to see him sink to his knees before every civilian in Florence.
I felt Amadeo's hand hit my shoulder as he attempted to pull me back. The momentum of my sprint was too strong, I pushed through the people and gripped the dagger I usually hid in the folds of my tunic. In my mind, I drew the paths of our steps, and in an instant we would collide. I lunged forward, my arms outstretched and ready to block him from Archbishop Baldassare.
Within a span of seconds, I heard a crunch and a gut - wretching feeling contracted my stomach. Ezio fell to the ground from the unexpected event. When I looked at Baldassare, not ten inches from myself, I saw the same surprise in his eyes, but soon enough that surprise turned to pain as he doubled - over onto his knees. I watched in shock as he looked at me with those terrified eyes. Then I came to the realization.
I killed Archbishop Baldassare.
Amadeo pulled my shoulder roughly, and I nearly stumbled into a woman behind me. I quickly apologized. I squeezed my eyes shut as Ezio's silver blade emerged from the Archbishop's gut, dripping with blood. I knew that would happen, I knew Ezio would kill him.
Without a spoken word, the group of us boys hurried away from the scene with the remainder of the startled, and overly panicked, people.
"I don't want to die!" A few of them cried out.
"Murderer!"
"Disgusting filth! Spawn of Satan!"
At that moment, a wretched feeling of guilt swelled upon my body and I began to tremble. I turned, just in time to see Ezio sprinting in my direction, his eyes fiercely focused on me, and his wrist blade glinting in the sun.
I awoke with a jolt of pain. Beside me, two courteseans soothed my burning arms with ointment, messaging gently. I was breathing heavily, my dream flashing hauntingly in my mind. I could have done what every noble man and woman there did, I could have hurried away and forgotten what had happened. But of course not. I had to go and disturb the normalcy of life in Italy. Ezio's name and face would be posted everywhere. Mine is surely beside his.
"That was quite a show," Ezio was leaning againt the doorframe when I looked up, a playful smirk on his face. He was only half looking at me, the courteseans at my side occupied much of his attention. I grinned foolishly, despite the growing remorse that burned under my skin. Should I tell him it wasn't the Archbishop I meant to kill? I wondered, then decided against it. If I did, he would surely kill me right then.
"Well, I wanted to get in on the action. You know you have to let other be infamous for awhile, don't you?" I lied jokingly, cringing inside at my own words. I was beginning to sound a bit like Agapito. It ashamed me.
Ezio sobered up a little," You know I do not assassinate for the fame, si?"
I nodded somberly.
"I am only doing my job, my father's unfinished work," Ezio continued quietly and slowly walked over to where I lay, bed ridden. I could only make small gestures.
"I don't suppose your family was in on the business?" He cracked a joking smile.
"Actually, I -" I was interupted by a figure noisily stumbling through the door.
"Azhh! Ladiess!" He was a drunken man, grionning like un idioto. He raised a bottle of alcohol, sputtering a few slurred words before being whisked out of the chamber by three young girls, all dressed in similar dresses that were short in the front and cascaded to their ankles behind them.
"What were you saying, friend?" Ezio smiled.
"I – uh..." I cleared my throat, "Actually, I don't have great training..." In my mind, I silently cursed myself.
"Ah! Well! You have proved yourself an excellent runner!" Ezio praised, raising his eyebrows at me. He settled himself in a chair next to the bed, and I assumed he wanted to talk. Hopefully it wasn't about why I decided to kill the Archbishop or anything of the like.
"I met a girl." He started.
"A girl?" I was surprised, what a change of subject!
"Si, She is wonderful! Full of curiousity and strange ways. She sats she doesn't know how she got to Florence! I found h er nearly drowning in the ocean, scared and lost. She told me she barely remembers anything from her past. But she has said a few things."
I raised an eyebrow, "Such as...?"
" Well -" He appeared pleased that I was interested in his situation, " She said something about her mother, she needed to take her mother to.. to what she called a 'hospital'. She was mumbling about being cold when I dragged her out of the water. Then she went sputtering about me! She knows who I am!"
I almost laughed, "She knows who you are? Well, what a surprise! Ezio! Your name is everywhere!"
"No, no! It wasn't like that. She knew about my father, she told me about Claudia and my mother. She even said a few sweet words about my brother. I asked her what she meant, but that was when she passed out. She's living in another Villa right now, and when you are well I want you to come with me to see her."
I bit my lip, a witch? Is that what she could be? I asked Ezio that, and he looked thoughtful for a moment. He scratched the scar on his lip and furrowed his brow.
"I don't know, but she seems too friendly to be a witch! Witches are angry people, full of hate and disregard. She wasn't like that. She was confused, lost, and so happy to see me." I saw something in Ezio's eyes, something... Strange.
I wasn't long until I recovered from the treacherous event. I had assassinated the Archbishop (accidentally) and then, of course, Ezio grabbed my arm and we began to sprint in a random direction. From the way we were running, I knew many streets sat tangled ahead. We had a good chance on getting lost to the guards. One of the faster guards caught up to me and slashed my back with his sword. I stumbled, and with a swift hand, Ezio embedded his wrist blade in the guards stomach.
We continued to sprint, I was only a little slower, despite the searing pain in my back. I felt like I was about to fall over, but I had to keep going. If those guards caught up to me, I would die within the minute.
I didn't know why Ezio chose to help me, I didn't even know why he brought me under his wing. It made no sense, but I did know I was undoubtedly grateful. How would I repay him? And when?