Bright, golden sunlight streamed through parted curtains. Violet eyes squinted when the warm glow hit their eyelids. Alessa Conti rolled so that she was facing away from the merciless sunlight, tugging her blankets over her head. She hated mornings. Her door suddenly opened and the breath was knocked out of her when the familiar form of her sister landed on her.
"Sorella! Wake up! You know what day it is!" Lia giggled, bouncing up and down on her sister's back.
Alessa growled and rolled around, trying to throw her sister off. Lia fell onto the mattress without a fight in a fit of giggles. Alessa threw the blankets back, smiling at her sister.
Lia giggled again. "We still have to pick flowers for the Carnival! Get up mia sorella pigro!"
Alessa chuckled, sitting up. She stretched and looked at herself in the mirror. The usual sight she now saw didn't faze her a bit. When she was younger, it horrified her. Her curly hair was sticking up at odd angles. She looked like a strange version of Medusa.
Lia snickered at the sight.
Alessa rolled her eyes, getting out of bed. She shivered as her warm feet touched the cold stone floor. She really was going to have to talk Papa into buying some rugs for the rooms. Alessa walked over to the little bowl of water and got to work on her hair and face.
She had to look good for the first day of the Carnival after all.
Alessa was basically dragged down the stairs after she was dressed. She wore the latest fashion of dress and she had a net holding her curly, almost white, blonde hair back. She got the cursed hair from her French mamma. The said mamma was sitting at the table, drinking some coffee.
"Buon giorno!" Lia chirped. The girl's auburn hair bounced as she pecked her mamma on the cheek.
Madonna Conti smiled at her daughter, violet eyes twinkling.
Alessa grinned. She hoped that she looked like her mamma when she was older. The French beauty passed a lot of her features to both of her daughters. Alessa got her mother's face mostly. She looked at a mirror that was hanging above the fireplace. Alessa knew she was pretty, but she didn't look Italian pretty. She looked French pretty. She sighed. She was always shunned by the other girls. At least Lia looked Italian with her auburn hair and golden eyes. Her face was still French though.
"Sit down mes filles. It's just us this morning," Madonna Conti said, her French accent slurring her words.
Alessa sat beside her mother. "So, papa is at another meeting?"
Madonna Conti nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. Monsieur Borgia needed his help, again."
Alessa almost rolled her eyes. She met the infamous Cesare Borgia before and she didn't like him one bit. The man looked like the snake from Eden himself.
Lia frowned. "Why can't we go to the meetings Mamma?"
Madonna Conti chuckled. "Because you've only seen 10 summers ma petite fleur."
Alessa grinned and watched eagerly as the maids brought out their food. Alessa dug into her breakfast. She knew her appetite wasn't lady like, but her stomach had more influence on her than her upbringing did.
Madonna Conti chuckled as she watched her older daughter.
After breakfast, the girls walked outside. "See you at the Carnival!" Lia said, grabbing Alessa's hand.
Madonna Conti smiled and waved. "Remember to meet us in the Piazza Navona."
Alessa nodded to show that she heard and the girls were on their way. Alessa guided her sister toward the road leading to the Colosseum. Alessa loved walking through this area. The mixture of the soft grass and the historic ruins always fascinated her.
Lia walked ahead, grabbing at wildflowers as they walked along.
Alessa saw the magnificent walls of the Colosseum rise in her sight. She started to look for a cart that sold masks. They would need them for the first night of the Carnival.
Alessa finally spotted a cart, beckoning to Lia. The girls walked over and they started to inspect the masks. The cart owner smiled warmly as he watched the older sister dote on the younger. Alessa finally picked out a beautiful green mask for Lia and a blue one for herself. She paid and they waved as they walked away from the cart. The girls took their time walking across the meadow and onto the road again.
"Sorella?"
Alessa looked own at her sister. "Si?"
Lia was looking straight ahead, pointing. "Who is that? His clothes are strabiliante," she asked with a huge grin.
Alessa looked ahead and her eyes widened.
A man was talking to a dottore at the man's cart. He wore pure white robes with a hood. A red sash and leather waistband was wrapped around his waist.
Alessa furrowed her brow suspiciously. She could tell that this man was strong, and the various weapons on his body told her that he could fight with every single one of them.
She had to agree with her sister. His clothes looked amazing. Alessa scrunched up her nose. She has never seen anyone dressed like that.
The man turned and started to walk on the road ahead of them. "Isn't he handsome?" Lia whispered.
Alessa looked down at her sister. "How can you tell? You haven't seen his face," she said in amusement.
Lia shrugged. "It's how he walks. I like how he walks."
The said man had slowed down and he stopped on the side of the road. He seemed to be looking for something.
Alessa steered clear of him, watching out of the corner of her eye. She exhaled through her nose. Her father's military training was kicking in. Alessa couldn't remember a time when she wasn't learning something that had to do with war tactics or weapons. Alessa wondered if the man was a secret thug for the Borgia. She shook the thought away as the man disappeared from her line of vision.
She had a Carnival to get to.
Alessa dragged Lia along toward the Piazza Navona later that night. The sisters already visited many other Piazza's, enjoying the Carnival games and shows. A big commotion was coming from the square. Alessa frowned, knowing that circuses usually came here sometimes. She saw that it was a brawl though. Men were tossing coins around as they bet on their fighters. Alessa tried to peer over the men's heads to see who was fighting.
Two redheaded men were fighting six other men, and winning. Alessa sniffed and dragged Lia away from the scene.
Lia stumbled along as Alessa dragged her through the crowd. It was almost evening, where were their parents? Alessa looked at the usual spots they would be in. No sign. A loud gong of a bell sounded. Alessa stiffened. It was the hanging bell. Someone was being hanged on this glorious day. She shook the thought away, trying to relax again.
She started to pull Lia toward another part of the Piazza but a hand on her upper arm stopped her. She looked to see who was stopping her and she almost gasped.
Borgia guards.
Alessa's lips tightened into a thin line. She hated these men. They were as bad as their masters.
"The Conti sorelle, took us long enough to find you," the man growled.
Alessa's eyes widened. "Che cosa?" she asked shakily. What was going on?
Another guard walked up and tried to grab Lia. Alessa ripped her arm from the man's grasp, pulling her sister close to her.
"What do you want?" she asked, looking at the growing number of guards.
A crowd of people were starting to gather now.
The guard chuckled. "You're parent's necks just snapped. Now it's your turn."
Alessa felt like her blood turned to ice in her veins. The hanging bell... It couldn't have been... Alessa clenched her jaw. "You're lying!" she snapped, stepping away.
The man laughed almost evilly. "I'm not bella. I carried out Cesare's orders myself."
Alessa studied the man. He was tall and he wore the regalia of a Captain. His dark eyes seemed to pierce straight into Alessa's soul.
"Cesare ordered this?" Alessa growled, anger rising.
Lia whimpered in fear and confusion.
The captain nodded. "Face it girl. You're next."
Alessa turned to run. She held back a curse when she sat they were surrounded. She grit her teeth, heart going into overdrive from the shock and fear for her parents. She pushed the feeling aside. It was time to be a General's daughter now, she had to protect her sister. Alessa pulled Lia closer to her, studying all the men. Most of them were standing relaxed, like they didn't expect her to escape.
Alessa looked down at Lia. "Lorsque vous exécutez je vous dis. Comprendre? Trouver un endroit pour se cacher. Je vais vous trouver," she whispered in French.
Lia nodded.
Alessa reached out, wretching one of the guards' spears from his hand. He grunted in surprise and pain as Alessa stuck it in his gut. She jerked the man aside, making an opening for Lia to escape. Lia darted past the men, easily weaving her way through the crowd.
Alessa pulled the spear out, swinging it in a circle abover her head. She didn't know how many men she hit, she didn't care. I have to buy time for Lia. She heard footsteps behind her and Alessa let her training take over. She spun on her heel and blocked the sword before it could connect with her flesh.
She expertly twirled the spear and cut the mans side, taking the opening for stab him in the ribcage. The man gargled in pain as she slowly pulled up. She finally ripped the spear free, twisting as she threw it toward the Captain.
The man barely blocked it with his sword. Alessa took that chance to leap toward the nearest wall. She didn't care if men could see up her skirts. She needed to find Lia. Alessa pulled herself up onto the rooftop and she started to sprint away. She kicked off her slippers, they weren't helping anyway. They didn't do anything but keep her feet clean. Alessa enjoyed the rough feel of the shingles as she ran along. Years of training in the practice yard in her bare feet helped.
Alessa picked up her skirts and she leaped onto the next rooftop. Alessa looked around for the familair auburn hair of her sister. She finally found it.
Lia was running along the roof tops as well. Alessa ran toward her sister. "Lia!" she called out.
Lia whipped around and smiled at her sister in relief. The sisters ran up to a nearby ledge and they leaped. They landed in a pile of hay and they climbed out. They continued running, hearing the Borgia guards trying to make their way down the crowded street. Alessa grabbed her sister's hand and led her through the city.
They had to get out. They needed to hide. Her mind screamed this at her. Get away! Get away and hide! Alessa started to run toward the nearest way out of the city.
Alessa didn't know how long they ran. It seemed like Borgia guards were everywhere though. Whenever Alessa and Lia would turn down a street to get away from them, more seemed to pop out of nowhere. Alessa's breath was coming in short gasps now. She knew her feet were bleeding. She had to keep running though, for Lia.
Alessa found that she led them into an empty courtyard, skidding to a halt in the middle. Borgia guards blocked every way out now.
Lia started to cry.
Alessa pulled her sister close, trying to comfort her. Why did my parents hang? Tears started to form in her eyes. Alessa blinked to hold them back.
"You couldn't run forever bella."
Alessa turned toward the man who spoke. The Captain had a sneer on his face. Alessa looked around. It was her against 12 men now. She doubted that she could steal another spear. Her heart started to slowly sink in her chest. This is the end.
Alessa was suddenly pushed to the ground. She grunted in pain when her shoulder hit the hard stone beneath her. Lia cried out as she was torn from her sister's grasp.
"Sorella!"
"Lia! Don't you hurt her you scopa! She did nothing!" Alessa snarled. The Captain's sneer got bigger.
"My my, such language from such a pretty young lady."
He snapped his fingers and two guards lifted Alessa up. They held her arms as they dragged her over to the Captain. He grabbed her chin.
Alessa glared at him with every fiber of her being.
He chuckled. "So, it is true. You look more like your French whore of a mother. Beautiful, all the same. I might enjoy having my way with you before that pretty neck of yours snaps."
Alessa's gut twisted in rage. She spat in his face.
The man wiped the spit off his cheek and he looked over at Lia. The look on his face was malicious now. He snapped his fingers. Alessa watched in horror as one of the guards pulled a knife out and slit her little sisters throat.
"NOOOOOO!" Alessa screamed in rage. She struggled against her captors, throwing every curse she had out. Her little sister. Her little sister was... Alessa's heart felt like it was being ripped out of her chest. The rage couldn't stop that anymore. Alessa cried and screamed until her throat hurt.
One of the other guards gagged her. She still cried. She watched as the guard dropped her sisters body. Lia had never looked this lifeless. Blood was flowing down onto her dress. Alessa felt her heart break even more. She cried harder.
"Shut her up!" the Captain snapped.
One of the guards lifted his hand to slap her.
Alessa saw something move in the air and her eyes widened.
The guards holding her suddenly collapsed to the ground. Alessa looked, eyes widening in shock.
It was the man with strabiliante clothes.
Alessa could barely make out hazel eyes under the hood. He pulled his hands away from the guards' necks. Alessa watched in wonder as two thin blades pulled themselves back into the bracers on his forearms. More guards ran toward the man. The man expertly whipped around and disarmed one of the guards.
"Assassino!" the captian yelled, running down the street.
Alessa couldn't believe what she was seeing. The man in white looked like he was dancing as he fought. His cape twirled around him dramatically. He batted the guards away like they were flies. He was deadly and precise with his blows. Soon, none were left.
Alessa looked around at the carnage around her. The man in white walked forward and he untied her gag. "Are you alright?"
Alessa shook her head, looking toward Lia. She slowly got up and padded over to her sisters still body. Her feet cried out in protest with every step. Alessa collapsed to her knees next to Lia, wrapping her arms around Lia's still body. She watched as Lia's head rolled back like a rag doll. Alessa couldn't take it anymore. She buried her head in her sister's hair and she cried.
The stars of Roma seemed to cry with her.
