Ezio had been strange on the way to Monteriggioni, he told me of his family and how he came to be an assassin. I listened politely, though it saddened me that he did not remember our childhood. Before both our families feuded and separated, we were good childhood friends. I was often better at him when we competed, though Ferderico would step in and show us both to shame when he mastered whatever we were doing.
And now he acted as if he'd never seen me before. We looked similar! Why couldn't he see that? I was only four months younger than he, and we enjoyed our times together until we were both eight. That was around the time my father, Giovanni's younger brother, was paid to kill both his brothers. He was not an assassin, not a killer either. He attempted, then was caught. When Giovanni was about to kill him, not realizing who he was, my father cried out.
Everything spilled out. From the amount of florins to who the client was. Giovanni was disgusted. My father fled to Rome.
As we rode on horseback, I thought of this story my madre told me a long time ago. I then understood why Ezio wouldn't recognize me. Why would Giovanni speak of my father or me, ever? Our side of the family was disgraced, and exiled. We were no longer in contact with the Auditore family. My father had to change our name. So then I was Basilio Cosima, as I am today.
"And this is it, Basilio. You are welcome here." Ezio said, his face hidden by his hood as we dismounted our horses. I wasn't one to ride much, and when I dropped to the ground, I nearly groaned because of the soreness that revealed itself right then.
"Claudia," Ezio nodded as we entered the bright room. A rather beautiful woman sat behind a large wooden desk, slowly writing in a very lard book.
"You here to see the book?" She asked boredly. I cracked a smile at her tolerance. If I was her, I would have left the book hours ago to explore. I cannot sit still or focus on something for long. The longing for adventure was in the Auditore blood, I suppose.
Claudia had tightly pulled back brown hair, weaved intricately in a fashionable manner. Her face was pretty, she had small brown eyes and a smirk – like smile. At the moment we walked in and I saw her, I could feel my head spinning. To stop myself from stuttering, I simply smiled at her with the same charming smile I've seem Ezio perform. I don't remember her from our childhood, and we're not family any more... Right?
"No, no. I'm just looking for Sareh." Ezio said with a yawn as he peered into the money chest. There must have been none, for he shut the lid with a frown.
Claudia gave an exasperated sigh, "Sar-eh this, Sar-eh that. Is she all you talk about these days?" She turned to me, "Is she all he speaks of?"
I began to answer, trying to explain that he was not what he seems, though I was interupted by a girl running and jumping into Ezio's arms, crying out, "Ezio! Oh, I thought you were dead! Your mercenary guys came back and said they, like, lost you!"
And to think I was slightly excited to meet her! She was a blubbering little girl. Ezio spoke of her as if she was a goddess. She has short cropped brown hair and, at the moment, dark teary eyes. She was very thin, it made me wonder if she had anything to eat on a daily basis. She was wearing a similar dress to Claudia's, though her's was a green colour and looked much too large for her. The small rope that held the fabric to her waste was bunched and her waist looked much too small for a normal human being that I was used to.
Ezio returned her hug, picking her up and swinging her around. She giggled and when he set her down, she kissed him. Her teary eyes had dried rather quickly. To my perspective, she was artificial. I knew a few of that type in my years. They were skilled on saying what you wanted them to say, they wanted to become your fantasy. Some courtesans did that, it must be a lot more work though. The rest just flounced their body and said nothing at all.
Anyways, this Sareh released her grip from Ezio's neck and just smiled up at him. He brushed her hair from her face, and I switched my gaze to Claudia, who was looking at me. We exchanged eye – rolls.
Within the moment, we all heard a crash from outside the villa. Something was wrong.
" Here!" Ezio ordered and tossed me a silver sword. A little rusty, but sharp none the less. I turned to warn Claudia, but she was already gone from behind the desk. I hadn't even heard the chair slid across the floor! I shrugged it off, she was probably upstairs with my aunt. I gripped the sword, admiring the decorated hilt and after Ezio quickly bid his girl farewell, we departed from the villa. The sky was blanketed in dark clouds and from a distant, we heard screams.
"It's coming from the tailor shop!" My eyes widened and I sprinted after Ezio. Even though the time was dire, I smiled slightly as to wonder if I could beat Ezio again, show him my improved skills since we last competed at swords play.
When we got a good view at the battle scene, I bit my lip. I was in small scraps before, but this was the real thing. It looked as if a band of thieves had gotten caught in the store. The few mercenaries were on them, and loosing. Four bodies, Mario's men, lay motionless on the ground. I felt my lip curl at the disgusting men, wearing striped green tunics and Templar – styled belts.
Ezio climbed up on the roof, just as I was about to charge. I looked up at him quizzically, but followed up a ladder.
"I will jump, watch! I'll assassinate two men at once, it's a skill I am proud to have learned." He looked at me, and I saw the competitive streak in him shine. We both looked down at four enemy men brawling one of our men below us in the street.
" One... Two..." Ezio slid his wrist blade from it's clasp, it glinted softly.
Before he could say three, the Templar thieves fell, knives lodged into their throats. All twelve, fallen onto the already bloody cobblestone. Ezio and I glanced at each other, baffled looks on our faces. I flicked my gaze around the rooftops, desperate fro a source of the throwing knives. I saw no one.
The six remaining mercenaries looked just as bewildered as we did. Ezio and I jumped from the ledge to the ground, then stood up straight. The dead men around us stared up at the sky, their faces blank. There was no answer, no clues. It was a mystery, whoever had assisted them.
Later that evening as the sun was setting, I coaxed Claudia out on the rooftop of the villa. We gazed over the city, admiring the way the dimming sunlight smoothed over the sharp features of pointy rooftops and protruding shapes. Everything was curved, set just a certain way. The shadows were growing, taller and taller throughout the dusk.
"Basilio." Claudia whispered. I couldn't help but feel my heartstrings being pulled at her soothing tone of voice as my name rolled off her tongue.
"Claudia." I whispered back, a small curve on my lips.
"You didn't mean to." her voice was soft, but in a way I could hear a firmness and certainty behind her words. She knew what she was talking about, but did I want to understand? Did I want my assumption to be correct?
" I, it was... I mean -" I started, but my explanation was cut short by her lips on mine. In a way, I wanted to cherish that moment forever. In my heart though, I knew it was wrong. She was blood. I knew that, but she didn't.
After the failed attempt at a battle, I sat with Claudia all afternoon to talk with her and keep her company. Ezio was off with Sareh, and only god knows what they were doing together. So I decided to learn of the finances of the city. Of course, that was not what we ended up doing. I asked her about herself, and she was glad to explain. I learned her desires, her fears, and what she thought of her brothers.
"My life has been confusing. Man after man, my father tried me for suitors. I -" She chuckled, "I frightened them all off. Wonderfully happy, that I am without a controlling noble man to order me around!"
I laughed, and patted her hand lightly, "Not all men are horrible," I smiled, "Only those old, rich ones who have had seven wives before you!" We both laughed at that.
I felt at home, sitting beside her in a comfortable chair and joking around. After I patted her hand, she held my fingers for awhile, gazing into my eyes. I thought she was going to kiss me, but I guess I was wrong to think so. A moment passed, I was ready, but just then Mario entered the room. He started talking to Claudia about finances, things I didn't understand. I stood up to take a walk, planning to come back to talk a little more in about an hour.
I returned her kiss, placing my hand on her cheek. She trusted me, only after a day. She scooted closer to me, placing her left hand on my knee. I felt like fainting. I knew this girl for a day, and I was already so close to her. I wondered if Ezio would be jealous. But then again, he probably had Sareh in less than an hour.
Suddenly she let go and I felt sharp metal on my neck. A knife, I observed quickly. She had a knife to my throat, a hard look in her eyes.
"What are you planning against my brother?" She hissed.
"Woah! Claudia! W-What do you mean?" I stammered, utterly confused. One second she showed affection, the next... Hatred. What did I do to arouse this?
Claudia dug the knife a little into my flesh. I winced, but doubted she would actually intend on hurting me. I tried to scoot backwards a small length, but she obviously was in no rush to left me escape. I opened my mouth.
"Scream and I slit your throat," She sneered, " Now what are you planning?" Her hard stare told me she honestly thought I was conspiring against Ezio. This made no sense, where did she get her information?
"I didn't! - I'm not! Please, Claudia, believe me! I would do nothing to hurt your brother, I would do nothing of the sort. Please!" I begged, mentally rethinking her abilities. She wasn't just some woman, she was an Auditore woman. How could I have not seen this before?
Suddenly a crash sounded from inside, and I would like to have said we scrambled to our feet and ran inside, but I was not so fortunate. The sound startled Claudia and her knife slashed my shoulder as she spun around. Luckily, not my neck. As I grabbed my bleeding self in pain, Claudia stood up. Before jumping of the roof she shot me a menacing glare.
Everything happened so quickly. I, the non-assassin type that I was, tried to stand up and steady myself. And of course, I stumbled over my own clumsy feet and tumbled off the rooftop.