The Confidant

Chapter One: Wrong Place

2nd Maggio 1478

The market place was buzzing with people, but none of them my target. No, the man I hunt isn't one that can be easily found - he knew how to blend in to a crowd in the blink of an eye. Even though this might've been in vain, I didn't care. Blood had to be spilled this night, it was only fair. A hooded man then appeared quite literally from nowhere, a shadow cloaking his face. His eyes were a strange shade of topaz, and the only thing I could associate it with was the aquila I once saw in the countryside, when I was eight. A bird of prey, my mother explained it as. A bird that hunted from the skies. My hand began to tighten around the dagger I had stolen from my father's drawer.

I didn't see a reason why he needed it anymore.

Our eyes met in that instant, and I couldn't help but be frozen to the spot. I saw the faintest ghost of a smile stretch across his lips, and he winked at me, turning and weaving his way through the clump of Florentine people. My teeth ground together, and a could feel a wild fire of fury ignite inside me. I had no time to lose, this might just be my only sighting, and followed after him as inconspicuously as possible, unable to avoid the questioning looks of the people around me. That didn't matter, all that did was to see him dead. It was hard, keeping up with this ghost of Firenze, because every other time I'd lose sight of him, he'd just reappear again for a single instance, making me run faster. He came before a large building, draped in red cloth and flowers. A whore house. I couldn't have been less surprised. As soon as he disappeared behind the door, I ran forward and pressed my ear up against the wood, listening as intently as I could.

"Everything is done, I take it?" Came a sultry, female voice.

"Si, Paola," his voice sounded as arrogant as I had pictured, "I am once again unknown to the people of Firenze."

"Then you have another task at hand." They began speaking of strange things unbeknownst to me, involving such things as Templars and Assassins and - a plot to assassinate Emilio Barbarigo. I remembered my father speaking of him, a man who was fair, and upheld the order Venezia was famed for. He was going to kill him, too. My mind darted to all those in power I could write a letter to, that formerly knew my father, that I could warn of this kind of thing. I didn't entirely have to kill the bastard myself - he could hang for treason, either in Firenze or Venezia. I smiled to myself at the thought, taking off for my house as fast as possible. I didn't realize, nor care about the time, though it was after dark, and the hell I had to pay was waiting for me in the shape of an angry mother.

She slapped me across the face. "What were you doing out at this late hour? That is not the behavior a lady should exhibit! What would Cecilio think if he knew you wondered around at night like a common whore?" Cecilio Birocella was my fiancée. He was just another heir to a mild banking family, the ones that kissed the asses of the Medici, secretly cursing their existence because it should've been their ancestors at the seat of Firenze's power. They, however, knew there was nothing there could be done about it. The palle had control of the city. The man I was being shackled to in question was nothing special. He found my physically appealing, and since I wasn't one for words, he saw this as a good chance to have a silent, obedient wife whom would do as he say without a mutter of protest. I ignored the shrieking woman and ran to her room, grabbing the nearest parchment that came to my hands, and began scribbling furiously, explaining everything I had heard in the whore house, plus of my discovery that the man who killed my father was named Ezio. That name, too, was familiar somehow. I thought hard enough, and my eyes widened in realization - my papa often complained about the Auditore family, and how they became far too close to the Medici in such little time.

My father came home once, boasting that the Auditore were finally dead, and all that was left were the women and one irresponsible son who managed to escape, but was fated to die. An enemy of the city by far. This letter would be helping more than myself - it had to be given to someone other than just any old official. No, this had to be given to Lorenzo de' Medici, the most powerful man in all of the city. I sighed, filled with exhaustion, and with a seal of the letter, I trudged off to my room, slipped into a nightgown, and began to drift, fully aware of the mission I had the next day.

***

No time to lose. I dressed, grabbed the letter, and ran downstairs as fast as I could manage in one of these annoying dresses. I hissed to myself at the sight of, who else, my mother standing in the doorway.

"And now where are you going, Gemma?" My hand clenched into a fist. "Did you not listen to me? I'm not allowing my daughter to roam the streets like a cheap whore!" I glared at her, then, turning on my heel and storming off to my room. I wasn't going to pout - no - he'd get away and I'd never be able to bring him the punishment he deserved. I sighed, opened the window, and heaved myself over the ledge, slowly climbing down the side of the building, attempting to disregard the reaction of the on goers below me. I cursed under my breath when a ledge scraped down my ankle, leaving a small gash. It - doesn't - matter - right - now - is what I kept chanting to myself. My feet touched the ground, and I dashed to the Palazzo Medici. I was a woman - and I was aware of this - but still, I'd at least have to try bringing the bastard some form of punishment. And, even if it didn't work, there was always the opportunity of killing him myself, it wouldn't be that hard. The palazzo towered over me, and when I ran forward to the door, and banged on it as quickly as possible.

"Password?" Came the grunt when the wooden eye piece slid over. I brandished the letter I had from my pocket, presenting it in front of the man. His eyes narrowed. "Who are you, girl?" I pointed to the insignia hanging around my neck, and understanding flashed into the eyes of this man. "So you're Abramo's daughter, eh? Messire Lorenzo, however, is in the middle of a meeting with an important guest. He doesn't have time to play charades with a muto, understand?" My eyes were pleading enough, and he groaned. "Fine, I'll give him the letter, alright?"

I shook my head. This could only be given to his hands.

"Well, then, you're out of luck. It's a private meeting." I tilted my head, questioning who was important enough to block my entrance. He snorted. "None of your business, little girl, so run along home and hope that you'll run into Messire Lorenzo in the streets somewhere - though I wouldn't bet on it." He laughed to himself at such a preposterous notion, closing the wood slit shut. I growled under my breath. There had to be another way in, it was a large enough building. A back garden, perhaps? I had to try. I ran around the building, looking around for some form of back entrance. My eyes widened when I saw Lorenzo de' Medici walking towards me, the letter in my hand practically burning. I couldn't take two steps before a hand came over my mouth, and a pair of lips came near my ear.

"That would be a bad idea, piccina," he murmured slowly, "I'm sure he's far too busy for something so trivial, don't you think?" My eyebrows knit together furiously. I struggled against him, thrashing and pushing. "Feisty one, aren't you? Much more interesting." Arrogant bastard. I latched on to the skin of his finger with my teeth and bit down as hard as I possibly could. His hand retracted out of instinct, and I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, straight into the chest of Lorenzo de' Medici, who raised his eyebrow. I thrust the letter into his hands, glancing back at the man, who was now … smirking? I turned again to the leader of Firenze who was patiently reading over my letter. He sighed.

"Where did you learn about this?" The man asked quietly. My eyes were wide. It didn't sound like Ezio was going to be arrested, either. "It does not matter, anyway. You are aware of far too much for your own good, and this letter proves it."

I blinked, eyes darting from the assassin to the Medici, unable to think of anything except one single command, mentally spoken to me in my father's voice. Run and hide. I did what I was told, dashing again, ignoring the now throbbing sting in my leg, eyes scanning all surrounding areas for something to hide in. A bail of hay, the water, anything. I could hear footsteps following after me mere minutes from my escape - it didn't even sound like he was running. I was being underestimated. I made a beeline for the nearest alley, taking the sharpest turn I could manage, and concealed into the shadows. He walked up, mere centimeters from where I hid and examined all around him. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the crowd. I was safe, it seemed. I took a step forward, only to be stopped by a short, freezing metal blade up against my throat. I sharply inhaled.

"Now that we understand each other," Ezio said slowly and deliberately, as if to instill fear in me, "it would be best if you were an obedient girl and came with me." He turned me around, and I took this opportunity to glare at my kidnapper with the darkest expression I could muster. He smirked, unaffected by the optical daggers I was throwing at him. "You shouldn't glare, piccina, it'll wrinkle your pretty face." All I truly knew was that I wasn't going to be home for an indefinite period of time - considering on how quickly I could escape from this man. He threw me over his shoulder like a common sac, and dashed off into god knows where.

---

A/N: Oh, goodness, my first Assassin's Creed story. I've loved this series since it came out in November, when I played the second before the first. Both were awesome games, though I managed to love the second more than the first. No surprises there, of course. Italy is just so beautiful, and the Italian culture and language has always fascinated me. If I'm doing anything wrong that you know of, please share with me in the form of a constructive review. Thank you.

Italian to English index:

Aquila: eagle

Firenze:Florence

Venezia: Venice

Palle: Ball (The Medici crest was a shield with balls on it, and they were sometimes referred to as that.)

Messire: Sir, Mister

Palazzo Medici: Medici Palace

Muto: Mute

Palazzo: Palace

Piccina: Little one