Chapter Three
HIDDEN LOSS
I walked through white halls adorned in blue and red tiles that formed floral patterns. I reach the edge of the stairway where I then heard a series of voices sounding through the main hall. I descended down the steps and headed outside where the voices sang of joy.
Outside, a woman and her child played in the pool with smiles radiating from their faces. I smile at them, at the boy as he laughed and splashed his hands through the water. I smile at the woman, her flowing white gown pressed against her slender form. She motions for me to join them.
I chuckle to her but accept and walk up to join her. The shiny marble floor was slippery when wet and added a strange feeling of out-worldliness. 'Assalamu alaikum, Maria,' I greeted her, my beloved wife.
Her smile widens and she tip toes to plant a soft kiss on my lips before replying with, 'Wa alaikum salam, Altair, my love.'
My heart was suddenly filled with so much happiness and contentment at the sight of my wife, and of my son Darim, so young, playing in the water, reaching his arms out at me for attention. I accepted that this was my life a long time ago— that I would wed and father a child. I once aspired to live as Al Mualim did, in relative isolation. No family but the brethren Assassins here, at Masyaf.
As I took my wife's hand and my son in the nook of my arm I came to the realisation, staring into my son's eyes full of wonder and innocence—I did not wish to live like Al Mualim did…not anymore…
…Desmon…Desmond!'
-=A=-
I felt like my soul which had been sucked out of my body, rush back in like a cool breeze. It was weird, for I had felt myself in another world. Another time, the middle-ages.
'Desmond!' I suddenly found myself in what appeared to be a bathroom, surrounded in fog…oh shit.
Out of the misty cloud I see a figure, curvaceous form, ample breasts and nothing to cover her wet body. It was Lucy, nude and dripping from head to toe. Her cheeks took on a shade of pink.
'Desmond, don't you nock?!' she yelled moderately, bearing in mind she did not want to shout too loud and draw the attention of her other co-workers. 'Get out!'
I was frozen in shock and terror. My eyes could not keep from darting to her naked body—especially her breasts and I felt the area around my pants tighten. I knew in my mind, in fact my brain was shouting for me to leave but my body could not respond. Though after a few minutes of just gawking like a fucking perv I stuttered for words and just bolted out the door.
How the hell did I?
I ran to the bedroom and on the mattress I sat, head buried in my hands. It was so fucked up. I actually thought I was still in the fucking Animus. God, I hope Lucy doesn't file me on harassment charges.
Still, she didn't seem to make an attempt to cover herself up…What the fuck was that, Desmond?!
'I need to get the fuck outta here,' I whispered to the silence.
I walked over to Shaun's room. He and Rebecca were to share their sleeping quarters, mostly because it was a hotel suite with two bedrooms, each with a bathroom and a joint kitchen and living room, neither one of them wanted to sleep on the couch. Me however, I think I'll sleep on the couch. I think that after what just happened, it's my only choice.
'Oh God, I fucked up.'
'You alright, Desmond?' asked Rebecca as she appeared from her room. 'You look pale, see a ghost?'
I shook my head, she wasn't far off. Though I think I'd survive a paranormal encounter any day. 'I keep getting visions,' I simply state. 'I keep having some sort of episode like if I'm back in the Animus.'
I caught Rebecca's fascination again and she took a seat on one of the chairs. 'You mean you keep on tapping into your ancestor's memories?'
I gave a slight nod. Rebecca places her hand on her chin in thought. The puzzled look on her face sort of freaked me out, terrified me for just a few moments.
'Dude, this is a real head scratcher, ain't it,' she said, shaking her head.
I sigh but accept that she doesn't have an answer. I'd probably ask Lucy but…maybe it's best I wait 'till tomorrow to ask. 'You gonna call it a night?' I ask Rebecca.
'Yeah, I'm feeling tired and stuff, I'll probably sleep first.' She then got up and walked to her room, 'I better get to bed before Shaun does, I don't want to be sleeping on the floor.'
'Hay, it's a King sized bed, I'm certain you could both fit on—'
'Don't even finish that sentence, dude.' She interjected. I chuckled at her look of embarrassment until she vanished into her room again.
Again I found myself in relative peace. It wasn't the type I'd favour really. Mostly because I knew it wasn't over, whatever this was. War or what Lucy suggested, a solar flare, it didn't matter because either way, somehow I suspected that a lot of lives were on the line.
I hate this feeling…
-=A=-
'Cristina, hold on,' I urged, almost commandingly as the woman in my arms coughs, struggling for breath. 'I'll get you to a doctor, you're going to be alright.' I took her into a garden enclosed by walls. I just needed to get her to safety.
She looks up at me, eyes flickering, 'Ezio…' she calls in a whisper, 'I…I don't think I am—'
'No,' I tried to drown her doubts out, for I too could—would not accept it, 'Don't… Don't go… Stay with me Cristina.' I lower myself and placed her body as gently as I could on the ground, resting her head on my arm. My heart was racing, far quicker than in the face of twenty hostile guards.
A sad yet strangely content smile on her beautiful face, one I've seen in my dreams for all the years I had been absent from her presence. 'Ezio…Don't you know…?' her smile was reducing me to tears. Then I see her taking hold of a necklace around her neck. It was the one I had given to her the day my family were hanged. She presented the jewel centred golden cross and placed the pendant in my gloved hand. I felt tears forming in the corner of my eyes and my heart breaking. 'I've always been with you.' She said to me.
I tried to smile. Please, don't leave me, Cristina. I suddenly found myself praying to God. To whatever god was up there. Please, do not take her away from me…
'I wish we…' she started with hardened breath, I moved her closer to me, 'could have had…a second chance.' Her smile was wide and I was immediately reminded of all the joy we filled each other's lives with the time we had.
I caressed the side of her head, feeling her hair. Even with my gloved hands I could feel her warmth. I watched as she closed her eyes, still a smile appeared on her face as her life withered. Withered away…from me.
…
'He's lying!' I tried to roar out but found my voice drowned by the crowd gathered in the Piaza della Signoria. I had given Uberto the documents that father had told me to deliver to Uberto specifically. They were documents that would begin to uncover a conspiracy. I had given them to him last night. Uberto this bastardo was lying. Alas I could not proclaim my voice in such rabble.
I need to get closer!
As I made my approach, gently shoving people out of my way, I see Uberto with a smirk over his wide face. 'In the absence of any compelling evidence to the contrary,' he started saying again. 'I am bound to pronounce you…GUILTY!' by this I had to quicken my pace, alas the crowd made it difficult. 'You and you collaborators,' he was now gesturing to them, my family: my father and my two brothers Federico and oh so young Petruccio, standing, a rope for each. '…are hereby sentenced to DEATH!'
By this time I was sprinting, harshly pushing past people.
Then…my father spoke. 'You are the traitor, Uberto and one of them!' the fire in his eyes, the rage, I only hope that they were not directing at me. 'You may take our lives this day but we will have yours in return! I swear!' he was shouting, crying out over the masses, trying to attack Uberto the bastardo with his words. 'We will—'
'FATHER!' I yelled as the hangman pulled the lever and my family dropped, my father robbed of his last words. I heard their necks snap, even from here—
…
I woke up with my heart racing a thousand miles a second, sweat running down my head and unto my bare chest. I tried to slow the pace of my heart but it was no use. I cried out into the empty room. I found myself back in the Palazzo alle Mura. After some time my beating was beginning to relax. I shook my head off of any more weariness.
I was Desmond Miles once again. It always felt strange to relive the memories of my dead ancestors. Being Ezio seemed a lot more intense. But I think I'm beginning to understand him.
For many years have I been running away from my past. Ironic how doing that had led me to be thrown literally into the past.
I checked out the apartment window. The sun had yet to rise but I could guess from the lighting outside that it was morning. I sat myself up and watched the sweat on my forearm. The tattoos on them, reminded me of so much.
Now that I was awake, I didn't feel much like sleeping anymore. So I got myself up and headed to the kitchen. Lucy had stocked it up last night with some milk, water bottles, a couple of beers which I wasn't allowed to touch, Son of a bitch, I whispered. Then there was also a bag of chocolate chip cookies. Still, I took the carton of milk and just drank it straight out of the carton.
'Where'd you learn your table manners?' I jumped at the intrusion but again relaxed when I saw that it was Rebecca. She came in wearing basically nothing but a black sports bra and tight workout shorts. 'Sorry, didn't mean ta scare ya.'
I shrugged and took two beers from the fridge, one I offered to her.
She took it without hesitation and sat at the dinner table. 'Couldn't sleep?' she questioned.
'Nah, I was getting thirsty,' I answered. When she asked if it was a nightmare I flat out denied it.
She shook her head. 'Dude, I heard your screaming all the way in my room.'
I mentally cursed at myself, 'Fine. It wasn't a nightmare per se. I was sort of…reliving Ezio's memories again.' That intrigued her.
'Wow…that sounds awesome.'
I raised a brow at her enthusiasm.
'Thing is, I also had the same experience yesterday.' I opened my beer and sat down opposite her. Drinking the beer (Lucy be damned) I began to retell the occurrence. 'I saw Cristina Vespucci die in Ezio's arms, then it just jumped back to the Auditore family getting executed.' As I retold this I saw Rebecca thinking hard on my words. 'Earlier today I was reliving Altair's memories, moments at Masyaf where he was just smiling happily at his family. That was when I snapped out of it and…well, I found myself staring at a naked and wet Lucy in the shower.'
Rebecca started laughing at me. I sighed in annoyance and waited for her to stop. 'Man, what'd she do next?'
I shrugged, 'Obviously she screamed and I ran the fuck outta there.'
'What's the matter, haven't seen a nude woman before?'
'I've seen plenty,' O blurted out, 'but I've never seen one that I know could literally kill me on the spot by cutting off my boner and shoving it down my mouth.'
Again Rebecca laughed at my expense. 'Yeah, she's subtle that way.'
After some more minutes of light conversation and a finished bottle of beer, Rebecca headed off to bed. 'Hay, could I ask, are you and Shaun sleeping on the same bed?' I had to ask, considering that she was in a quite suggestive apparel.
'Yeah shut up Desmond.' She quipped. 'Nah, I we sorta started off that way but I kicked him off about fifteen minutes in.' she simply stated before vanishing again into her room.
I walked around the couch I was sleeping on, beer in hand (Lucy be damned) and staring out the window at the rising sun coming over the trees. My head was beginning to get clearer now. It was about then when I saw it, the black armoured Abstergo truck just behind the corner of a cobblestone wall.
What was even worse was that there was a man out, a few metres to the right. He was looking at me with a pair of binoculars. He then placed his right ear to a walkie-talkie attached to his right shoulder.
Quickly I put my shirt and jacket on as well as the Hidden blade on my tattooed forearm. I then began to run through the corridor, banging on the two doors and waking Lucy, Rebecca and Shaun up.
Lucy was the first to emerge, rubbing her eyes, she too donned a sports bra, grey this time, and a pair of blue jeans, 'Desmond, what the fuck?!'
I looked at her with a serious face, then we heard Shaun call out from his room, he must have been looking out the window. 'They're here!'
-=/\=-
Author's Note: I own nothing in this piece of FanFiction. All rights and acknowledgement of ownership goes to Ubisoft, developers of Assassin's Creed. So what do you guys think? Sorry it took a while. I was quite busy throughout the holidays…I know right. Anyhow, I hope my fics have been interesting enough. Please tell me if I'm getting things wrong or if I'm missing few things and don't forget to read all my other works. Gracie.
