hapter 4

-The Actress-

The doctor took one more empty look at The Hellequin. He kept his syringe close to her torso, hiding it almost, ready with the green liquid. Her mind raced with the possibilities, what he'd do, where he'd inject it, how much it would hurt. She braced herself for pain, for death. "Darling, we must hurry..." He began in a soothing voice, tilting his head just a little. Caha was confused at this, it didn't make any sense. Again, she went for her daggers and he stopped her with the hand that was silencing her, making it seem playful. "Honestly?" Caha now could shout; she was angry. A shifting noise of distress behind them alerted Caha. Malfatto quickly snapped his body around, stabbing his syringe dead into the neck of... an assassin. He dug it into his flesh to make sure he'd shut up forever and pulled it out, proceeding in stabbing brutally whilst poisoning him, he dropped dead. "Silly Hellequin." He said, standing up on his feet while wiping his syringe neatly with a bloody cloth.

The Harlequin kindly pulled the mysterious woman up, knowing she wasn't a threat anymore. She stared confused at him and backed away, Harlequin held up his hands in defence. "I'm not going to hurt you." He crossed his arms, daggers tucked away neatly. The girl still seemed tense, her brown eyes glaring into him. "Kill me now, if you're going to. I will die for my Templars." She closed her eyes. "What do you think I am?" His eyes darted down at her necklace. She clenched it tightly. "Assassin. I saw how you and that girl moved, you both were so swift and could climb buildings and hide and-" "We're not Assassins." He offered the information in a more comforting voice. "We are Templars, though I've never seen you before." He tilted his head, his grinning mask burned into her memory. "I... " "You...?" "Don't mock me! How do I know you're not an Assassin trying to trick me!" She started; Harlequin drew his dagger, showing her a little cross embedded on it. "I doubt Assassins go walking around with Templar crosses."

"I made it seem like I was going to... ravish you. I was actually luring that assassin that was following you. I knew that fool would help a woman in trouble." He spoke in a very factual tone, making sure his syringe was meticulously clean. He shook his head slightly and cracked his back, rolling his shoulder while checking his pulse, glancing down at the Hellequin who was still stunned at what just happened. "You know, for a jester of your skill you're quite naive." He straightened his hat with his fingers, curious about the girl. She collected herself and stood up with a jump, keeping a very stoic attitude. She had no idea that an assassin was following her. This only made the doctor laugh; he clapped his hands. "Bravo! You are very amusing! It's quite alright my dear, you're young from what I gather and you'll get better at these skills in time." "I am good... I just was-" "Off guard whilst looking for your brother? You mustn't let these things bother you, search after the battle." He nodded, bringing the heel of his boot down on the hand of the assassin corpse and crushing it ruthlessly.

Cahin and the girl decided to form a mutual team for now in the chaos and both started off down the dirt paths that weren't so crowded. They were more exposed to buildings, fences and lovely tucked away hiding spots but they had to take this chance. Cahin held up a finger as he dashed up the roof of a wooden stand, examining the sight carefully, he could be seen from this view. He jumped back down after a few moments of speculation. "The place is just about clear now; we can walk in the tents again." He huffed silently, thinking of Hellequin. He knew he'd gone off without really thinking and left his sister in the dark, he realized soon after his adrenaline that he'd acted on a single impulse which wasn't too smart. He could've tapped her on the shoulder or told her something, but he genuinely wanted to know who he... she was. "What is on your mind?" The girl tilted to look at the eyeholes in his mask, her short black hair falling near her eyes. Harlequin examined this, it was a bit odd.

"We haven't had proper introductions yet... I am the Harlequin." He bowed, his only way of acknowledgement. "I am Lucia, or as some might know me, Lucio junior." She placed her hands on her hips, smirking at him. "Lucio?" Harlequin was puzzled by this. This made her laugh slightly," I'll explain later..." Her eyes trailed off to a roof, getting quiet. Cahin noticed this and followed her gaze, seeing someone sneaking about on the rooftops. They both glanced at each other and then began to run down the path, staying close to the walls in hopes to sneak up on the person. "Prove to me you're a real templar." She whispered as they got closer, this only made the Harlequin grin like his mask. "I will and I'll thoroughly enjoy it." He trailed off in a dark chuckle, flipping up onto a few boxes stacked up, beginning to climb.

"Now, unlike the whore, I knew there would be more than one of those Assassins here this evening. They were taking care of some Borgia influenced duke here in Siena, making sure their rule doesn't fall deeper. They're quite new however and a little easier to kill." Malfatto explained things like a medical professor, all the while still maintaining his ominous self. The man was insane but with practical reason. He was leading Hellequin down the now desolate streets of the carnevale, Malfatto seemed to be searching for something. He walked slowly, keeping a determined strut. Hellequin followed behind him, letting out a sigh while silently praying she didn't come across Cahin's corpse, though she knew Cahin was fast. The doctor glanced back at her for only a moment, chuckling. "Your emotional attachment to your sibling is interesting." He ran his finger along the beak of his mask, his eyes avidly focusing on the rooftops. "Aha." "What is it?" "Riddle me this jester, one two three..." "...four?" "Correct."

Cahin and Lucia were now visible to the man who was running about the rooftops. He led them back to the sight of the two dead assassins Caha and Cahin bashed up. He leaned down to them and closed their eyes, whispering a final prayer to them. He then stood, glancing at the two. The man was more equipped with gear and decorative designs than the previous two but regardless wasn't Auditore. He seemed to be quicker however; he possibly led Lucia and Harlequin there on purpose. "Tell me, you enjoy killing?" He called out, laughing with a bitter hatred almost locked in his voice. Lucia gritted her teeth and toyed with her Templar cross. "In the name of the Templar and the Borgia, with enjoyment." She shot back at him, it only angered him. Cahin sighed; he wasn't in the mood for this. "Hold your tongue." He placed his hand on her shoulder, his eyes darting over to something else. The Assassin, swift as ever also caught on to this movement and drew two throwing knives, aiming at the figures.

A wicked laugh trickled into the night air, it made Harlequin perk up with happiness. He knew that evil laugh all too well; it had been ringing in his ears since he was a child running after it. Caha dodged the daggers with ease, tugging on the doctor to move. He knew of course, but followed her lead; she was an expert at avoiding messy situations with daggers and knives. The Assassin looked confused and switched his gaze from the Harlequin and Hellequin. He didn't speak but they could tell he was dumbfounded by such an odd number of people. Hellequin skipped along the roof, swinging her arms at her side and jumped off towards Cahin, landing at his side. Cahin smiled and nudged her briefly, the Doctor stayed up high, he began to dug through his pouch.

"Afraid we can't let you live now Assassino." Hellequin began in her smooth voice, leaning her elbow on Harlequin's shoulder. "Though that was never the intention." She coldly finished off, drawing a dagger and balancing it on her index finger, smirking at the man. She cleared her throat innocently and watched the man, he was anticipating. "Brother." "Sister." Cahin responded on cue, leaning down on his knee, beginning a trick. The Assassin looked unamused and confused even. "Perhaps you'd enjoy a little performance first?" Hellequin started, tiptoeing up Harlequin's back. Lucia stood and watched the two, the female jester was so playfully and cocky unlike the serious male one. "I am in no mood for games." He called out, rolling his wrist for a moment, they knew that that meant. "Lucia... don't move." Harlequin whispered over at her, his eyes dead on the Assassin.

The Harlequin jolted up, his sister taking a leap and back flipping in the air, pouncing on the man to the ground. She stabbed his sleeve with the hidden blade into the earth, aware that he could kill her with it. The Assassin fumbled and rolled over, ripping his sleeve off. He pinned Hellequin and was about to stab her when he heard the clinging scratch of metal against his chest plate. He couldn't turn his back to all these opponents and was now in trouble. Harlequin kept his Rondels lodged at his neck, poking at the cloth, ready to kill. Hellequin smirked and clicked the back of a pistol, aiming dead at his stomach. The Assassin then froze, glancing down at her. "You'll shoot your brother." He offered quickly, Harlequin only pressed his dagger further at the man's neck, making a small opening. The man winced but could not do anything.

"The hell I care, as long as I kill you." Hellequin pressed the pistol further at his gut, shoving it. She had her hand on the trigger. She was striking fear into the man, both siblings were. This intrigued the doctor, who was just about done filling his syringe with a torturous poison. The Assassin triggered his hidden blade; both siblings nudged their weapons at his body. "And what if I kill one of you before?" "Then the other will kill you." Harlequin whispered almost, his voice evil. It was a tricky situation. The doctor pondered while watching the scene, he seemed so casual about death. "Now if I..." He began, grinning when his thoughts calculated. Hellequin began to squeeze the trigger slightly, the man grew impatient with panic and raised his arm in a punch, about to deliver the blow of the knife into the female's jugular when mercilessly the Harlequin stabbed both his daggers into the man's shoulders, dragging them up to his neck and tearing all the flesh, he was stunned in that instant.

Cahin dragged the man off his sister and threw him to the ground roughly, He was still alive. Within seconds he mercilessly pounded the daggers in his chest, rising back up with a satisfied glance at his work. Caha and Cahin then laughed, clashing their daggers together playfully and set off back to the doctor and the woman, Hellequin kicking the corpse in the head playfully. "He's stupid. We move as one." Cahin began, grinning idiotically beneath his mask. Hellequin smiled visibly and leaped into a hug, meekly staring as if she had something planned. Harlequin glared down at her, narrowing his eyes. "Don't even start those childish games." "But brother, we are but children!" She laughed, stealing his hat and skipping around the square, assassin bodies lying about. Harlequin stood annoyed for a few moments then went after her, getting his hat back.

The doctor chuckled as he placed his syringe aside once more, clapping. "Bravo, you two certainly lived up to your introductions. You will become wonderful murderers and templar agents." He stopped his train of thought, fading off when he noticed the living girl watching the two. She had a cloak on, the doctor started at her. Harlequin stopped his foolishness with his sibling and glared, quickly jumping to the woman's side. "Don't. She's a templar like us." He glared then came to the realization, "wait, what on earth are you doing here?" "I saved your sister from death, be thankful." He shot back. The doctor sighed and glanced up at the moon in thought. "We must go now before guards show up to this." He nodded, tipping his hat to Lucia. "The Doctor." He seemed to wink, setting off down the empty streets, expecting them all to follow.

When the four of them set off Malfatto explained how he didn't trust Fiora and couldn't resist going out to kill assassins. He'd known of the mission from talking casually with other agents around Roma and thought it would be best the two younger Templars have someone of experience looking out for them, even if they didn't know he was following them. The Quins were creeped out by this a little but none the less trusted Malfatto just a little more. They owed him that for pinpointing the Assassins they hadn't known about. Regardless the Harlequin was still hesitant having the psychotic doctor around women; he'd be on the lookout. Hellequin grew curious about the quiet girl and confronted her warmly with a smile. "Hello, I am the Hellequin."

"Are you two twins?" She asked. "Yes, actually." Harlequin responded for Hellequin, walking onwards next to the doctor. Caha and Lucia walked behind them, starting conversation. "we've been together since birth." "That explains a lot." The girl laughed softly, pulling off a red and gold scarf she had wrapped around her head, smoothing her hair and placing it back on. Hellequin then examined her attire. She had a white blouse hang from her figure, her waist hugged tightly by a black vest with red trimming. A belt loosely hung from her hips, a sword and something else in its possession. She wore typical black pants and dark brown boots, cloaked by a dark hood which was now hanging from her head. Her hair was black and chopped very short, almost in the fashion of a young man with shaggy hair.

"I find you..." "Unusual? Well, you have to keep a boyish appearance when you're usually pretending to be one." She smiled, everyone looked back at her. "Not that it really matters, since you might understand one's passion for performance." She sighed, crossing hr arms. "Don't even try to bring me to the Borgia, they'll let me free under Cesare's command." Hellequin grinned, "You like to act, don't you?" "It's a passion. But as you know women aren't supposed to act, it's illegal." She started, thoughts calculated in Cahin's brain. "That explains why you called yourself Lucio earlier." He grinned. "Yes, my father used to pretend I was his son and I could act in plays." She gritted her teeth after the happy thought, "Then the assassins murdered him." She darkly said, it took interest in the quiet doctor. "The Borgia guards caught me in Roma after a little... mishap. It's harder to stay 'male' as you get older. They arrested me and I would've gotten away if it wasn't for that strange courtesan."

All three took this information in, knowing who the courtesan was. Fiora Cavazza seemed to do all of Cesare's dirty work. "Cesare took interest in my skills and offered me a trade. I help track Assassins and he doesn't arrest and kill me, I call it a fair deal." She shrugged, Malfatto then turned. "You're not a Templar agent?" "What's a templar agent? He just told me to find Assassins and report anything." She searched the doctors mask momentarily. "Ah." He tapped his syringe absentmindedly, snapping his fingers. "You're not much to Cesare, but you're worth getting information. He probably believes your naive attitude will get you killed but you would be a useful pond." He nodded at his conclusion. "A pond?" She laughed, "Clearly not." "You could use a bit of work." Harlequin chuckled, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.

"Well, well a doctor, two jesters and a female actor." Hellequin giggled, skipping again. They spent another day travelling, stopping only momentarily to get some sleep. Cahin was tired by the time they reached Roma from watching the doctor. Once in Roma, they all bid their goodbyes and headed off in different directions, the usual when Templar agents finished. "We'll tell Cesare later on that the mission was successful." Caha nodded at Cahin. He nodded and yawned, glancing at Lucia who was still awkwardly following them. "Lucia, have you anywhere to go?" "I was staying in an inn but..." She began, the twins, laughed. "Would you like to come with us?" "That would be great." She gave them a smile, walking off to the boring townhouses.

"How did Harlequin come across you anyway?" Hellequin asked, raising an eyebrow at them. "Er..." Harlequin patted her back gently, laughing. "You punched me in the stomach good." He shook his head, Hellequin was astonished. "The young man?" "Young woman." Lucia winked, apologizing once more for knocking the wind out of Cahin. Caha laughed and ruffled her boyish hair. "Of course, only a woman takes down the scary Harlequin." She teased, skipping up to the door of their place and opening it, allowing everyone in. "I thought you were Assassins, you move so fluidly around!" She exclaimed, the twins looked at each other with pride. "We know, that's the point."

Yay! I'm really getting into this story! XD

There's a few things to do, I hope I stick to the characters.

I'll write more later ^^