Ch. 3

I thrashed about in my sleep, having a horrific nightmare descend upon me. It started with what felt like an earthquake, followed by electronic whirring, then voices with distinct Italian accents were in my face, but I was confused...was this English, or Italian? If it was Italian, how could I understand them? Hearing screams from a crowd, and more voices... I wanted to cry out, to scream with them, in an unknown terror. Had my night terrors come back? Or maybe I was way too excited about the new Assassin's Creed? Suddenly, I felt a hand upon my shoulder, gently rocking me...

"Hello? Are you all right, miss? Please, wake up..."

I stirred about, was this the dream? Or was one of my roommates trying to wake me up? What is going on? The rocking continued, but the rocking was faster, a little more jarring.

"Miss...please, wake up... Are you all right?"

An Italian accent... was one of my roommates playing a prank? I slowly opened my eyes, just to humor her. My eyes immediately met the eyes of another...deep brown eyes, I could just drown in them. This wasn't either of my roommates, in fact, I was nearly face to face with a man!

"Oh, you awake, finally. Are you all right? You had quite a scare back there, miss..."

I stared at him. He was much more handsome than Issac, all right. He gave me a look, indicating he was looking for my name. I fumbled for one, and came up with the only Italian sounding name I could think of.

"Its...ah... Alessandra...Um, what happened to me?" I looked around, to notice I was in a rather nice bed, but still in the pajamas I had gone to bed in. I looked around to find something to cover myself with.

"That is what I should ask you. To be more precise...why were you on the roof? You could have died! You are lucky that I was there to catch your fall." He shook his head at me, but my head began to swim. I looked around, in a daze.

"I...fell...from the roof? I was on a roof?" I was honestly confused, and wondering who this man was. "Do I know you? What is your name, since I gave you mine? I'm sorry for being so confused...it's a story I cannot tell, because I do not know it. I don't know how I got here, how I ended up on the roof, where I am, although I must assume somewhere in Italy..."

He put his finger on my mouth to indicate my silence. My face turned bright red, and I looked down.

"I will answer a few of your questions, but I fear I cannot answer them all, for I am confused as you. My name is Ezio Auditore de Firenze. You are in Venice, Italy. You survived quite a near fatal fall from a nearby roof. The fact you do not remember being up there, or anything before hand is troubling. We are at the house...who's roof you fell from."

My heart stopped. Ezio Auditore de Firenze. Wasn't he the protagonist from Assassin's Creed 2? I nodded to the portly woman at the door, who was wringing at a handkerchief nervously, and said, "I apologize for making you worry. I didn't mean to fall off your roof..." Ezio cut me off quickly. "I believe she is more concerned with the manner you dress in. Women don't dress in pants, or...is this a shirt? What is this blouse you wear?" He gently touched my shirt. I turned a bright red. "I sleep...in this. I don't normally dress this way in public... but I've apparently misplaced things, like a real dress. I don't know where to go from here, I certainly would cause a scene if I were to leave." Ezio sat up from where he was sitting, and began to pace the room, thinking. After several minutes of dead silence, and me blushing so hard, I could cook an egg off my cheeks, he spoke again.

"Well, Alessandra, we are indeed in a strange position. I do not know you, and the same could be said the other way. Any other man, or woman in the same position, would possibly leave you, or take advantage of you. This is how society is now. But I am noble, and I cannot ignore a beautiful rose such as yourself." Did he just call me...a rose? At this point, I had to make a conscious effort to breathe, and I was trying my hardest to hide my beet red face in the sheets.

"T...th...thank you...." I managed to sputter out.

"If the owner of this house might allow it," he looked back at the nervous wreck at the door, "I would like to stay the evening here, to make sure you are well and unharmed, and in the morning, send for a tailor, to make you a new dress." The woman at the door apparently relented, sighed, and said, "I will prepare the other room." To which Ezio's reply was, "Thank you madame."

When the elder woman left the room, I caught myself staring at Ezio. I tried to look down as fast as I could, but I was too slow.

"You keep staring at me. Is there something you wish to say? Don't lie and say you weren't staring, because I've caught you doing it at least three other times." He gave a slight smirk. I kept my face down, feeling my cheeks burn. I tried to not look at him, but could hear his footsteps coming closer. A finger touched my chin, lifting my face up, making me look at him. I turned even redder, and tried to avoid looking at his eyes, they were so...hypnotizing.

"I, uh... I can't say... I've ever met someone...as, well... as handsome as you are, Ezio." I gave a small, shy smile. "That, and I don't think I've ever been called a rose before."

"I only speak the truth, dear Alessandra. Your name is as gorgeous as you are, as well. I cannot lie to a beautiful woman such as yourself."

"Oh, but you lie to others?" I let out a small giggle.

"That's not what..." his face turned red. I burst out laughing. "What is so funny?"

"Oh, nothing. I think that would be the first time I've seen you turn red." I wiped back the tears that had formed mid laugh. He turned away from me. "Oh, come on. I think this is getting too serious anyway. I really appreciate you saving me. I owe you big time." I chuckled at myself, feeling like a complete idiot.

"Then perhaps, once you get your rest, and recuperate, I can take you to see the sights of Venice! You said you owed me... perhaps I shall take you up on it and your payment might be a date with me." He turned back around, with a slightly childish gleam in his eyes. "Venice is a very beautiful city, you'll find. Romantic or otherwise...there is not one ugly sight in this fair city. Of course, maybe except for those other families..." He trailed off, lost in thought again. I nearly hopped off the bed, but tried to calm myself, as to not look too eager.

"Oh! Of Cou... I mean, I think that would be...a good idea." I wiggled myself back onto my temporary bed. "I look forward to meeting this tailor tomorrow."

A smile spread on Ezio's face. "I will fetch the best tailor Venice has! But, my dear, you need your rest. You appear to be safe, so I will let you sleep without protection. If you need anything, I will be in the next room." I nodded, and got back under the sheets. These feel so nice, I thought, as I passed out again.