A/N: Redid the chapter, think it is a lot better now. Not too many changes, but more logical. Sorry for the lack of updates, been reaaalllyyy busy.
Rome. It had seem better times. First, the Borgia took over, and then stories of hooded murderers had started to surface. And, being the small-time thief I am, did not want to get caught in the conflict. The only thing that matters, is me getting enough money to feed myself.
The art of pickpocketing isn't actually that difficult, maybe it is because La Volpe is a good teacher. I never knew my family, and that didn't exactly open a window of opportunity to get better jobs. It was simple: male - thief. Female - courtesan. One of the latter was my target. Volpe had tasked me with stealing Flora Cavazza's pouch. Easy. Not so easy stealing from her sister, Fiora, but this case - cakewalk.
I neared the marketplace. It was busy, as always. Hope that those crazy hooded murderers don't come. The first shop, entitled "Mercante D'arte", a very original name in fact, had a man carrying paintings into the shop. And I just couldn't help but see a nice little, partially hanging pouch. I drew my dagger and walked behind him. I waited a few seconds, until he was putting the paintings down and then quickly sliced the single thread that was holding his wallet. I laughed quietly and walked away, into a secluded courtyard. The pouch seemed heavy. I emptied it onto my palm and counted it together. Not too bad at all. 120 florins richer than before.
Now for the target. I scaled the wall and admired the view. Nothing to say, the place still looks pretty good. I found the marketplace quickly and sat on a roof edge. Volpe had said that the target looked like her sister, wore a strange, white outfit, as she were one of the strange killers, and a bit less cat-like features than Fiora. I silently observed the crowd, ready to escape at the slightest sign of danger.
"Thief! Get him!" I heard a guard shout behind me. I pulled my feet up in one swift motion and got ready to make a run for it, but a blade touched my throat.
Someone grabbed me from behind and whispered in an evil voice: "Got you now, thieving bastardo."
Cazzo!
I felt something sticky and warm spill on the back of my neck, but kept still. The captor released me, but a second later another pair of hands grabbed me, a bit softer and thinner than the ones earlier.
"Pleasure to meet you. Who were you again?" I ask, in a sarcastic tone.
"None of your business. Just noticed a thief in need of aid. And no, I'm not a thief myself. Assassin."
"Okay… but why the stranglehold?"
"Oh, sorry."
She then started to move away and I followed.
"Ah... so, you got any reason or are you just following me around?" she asked, a bit annoyedly.
"Just following. Not much to do."
"...Right."
I continued tracking her and managed to move closer and closer, until her pouch was right next to me. I slided out my dagger and sliced the bag. She must've heard something though, as she turned towards me, froze for a second, and tackled me.
"Nice try," she said in a dry tone.
"La Volpe's orders, not mine."
"I'm going to have the Gra- I mean, someone, talk to him about it."
"Can I come along? Don't want any more guards on my tail."
"Umm... okay. But don't try anything. I got my eye on you," she ended the conversation.