This chapter has to be one of my favs so far! Hope you guys/gals enjoy it as much as I did writing it!
CHAPTER 4:
"Federico!" I laughed running slightly ahead of my escort and waved. He smiled and calmly walked at his own leisure. When he wasn't sitting around at his home reading or playing chess with Ezio. He often came out with me to see more of the city. "Look, ducks!" I leaned on the bridge and pointed down at the water below.
I suppose that I looked like a child bouncing around like I was, so excited to see the little feathered creatures. "Good." Federico nodded with a smile as he leaned down beside me. His father had taught me a bit of Italian, when the time could be taken out of his day, and now I could speak and even understand quite a bit here and there. Provided that it was said slowly and in short sentences. I leaned farther over to see my reflection beside Federico's but what I seen instead wasn't that.
It was myself falling down into the dark water below. The windshield bursting from the impact, and water spilling into the cab. I jumped down from the bridge choking on my own saliva. It had been weeks since I had a nightmare or a vision, and now it was coming back. "Are you alright?"
I held one hand around my throat and wiped the tears away as the choking subsided. "Fine..." He continued to stare down at me wanting more answers as to why I just randomly decided to choke on air. "Don't worry. I'm fine!" I smiled back at him. "Just got e-emo... emonateo...?" ((emozionato))
"Excited?"
"That one!" He didn't seem to be buying it, but I continued to try and tried to look back out at the little lake. I shuttered and looked away, the birds no longer looking sweet and innocent. Putting on a smile I ran off to go look at one of the shops set up outside.
"Alexis!" Ezio popped out from somewhere in the crowd and came to wrap an arm around my shoulders. He gave a wide grin and began rambling on about something as we walked along the street. I could only laugh in confusion at what ever tale he was spinning. He knew I couldn't understand practically anything that came out of his mouth. Who was I kidding he just liked to hear himself talk.
"Se non è Ezio Auditore. Non sapevo che la tua famiglia ha preso in mendicanti di strada."
"Vai a farti fottere, Vieri." Ezio waved his arm out and gave the weird man that had approached us. He was dressed in mostly black and a stupid marshmallow hat on his head. I already didn't like him.
"Che ne dici se il suo cazzo, invece?" He laughed causing the four teens behind him to join as they taunted Ezio. "Che cosa hai intenzione di fare? Non vedo la tua banda con voi ora."
Federico appeared at my side his hand on my other shoulder. "Non ha bisogno di nessun altro. I due di noi sono sufficienti. Go home, Vieri." The snake in the grass standing in front of us looked shocked for a second, but quickly composed himself. He started making obscene gestures, his friends hooting behind him in laughter.
Here's one for you too dumb-ass. I know that they probably don't get the international peace sign. So how about this one, I brought my left arm up and slammed my right hand down onto it holding it out toward the band of morons. Looking as board as I could manage. The fact that I couldn't understand them only helped me, they were speaking way to quickly. Ezio gave a snicker trying to remain impassive along side his brother. The four behind the first guy starting making 'ohhhing' sounds, the latter looked mad.
"Let's go..." Federico whispered to his brother who nodded his head. I turned to see over Federico and Ezio's arms the four of the five guys laughing in hysterics and the lone one shouting at us. He was apparently all talk and no action at the moment. As long as I had my guys with me, he wouldn't bother me... wait 'my' guys? I glanced at the brothers beside me and laughed. I felt giddy as a school girl all of a sudden.
"Ben fatto, Alexis! You pissed him off." Ezio laughed as we stopped.
"Lei sarebbe un Auditore meraviglioso!"
I laughed with them as they pat me on the back. "Beh, meglio la sua ottenere prima di me, fratello." Ezio said giving his brother a nudge and a wink. Federico shook his head and rolled his eyes.
I tugged on Federico's sleeve trying to regain his attention. "Who was that?"
"Vieri de'Pazzi." He said with another roll of his eyes. I nodded making a mental note to avoid him in the future. If he always dressed like that it wouldn't be to hard to stay away from him. Then again I look like a giant puff pastry as well in this dress.
"He's an idiot." Both brothers agreed although I'm sure they had more colorful things to call him.
We walked past several stands all the owners shouting for us to buy this and that. "It looks like Carnevale is starting soon..." Ezio said looking at a stand selling what looked like masks and jewelery.
"Carnevale? OH! A carnival!" I smiled figuring out quickly what was being said. "A big party right?" They nodded at me.
"La giovane donna bisogno di una maschera?" The man beside us asked. He walked around his stand and picked up a gem covered mask. He held it out to me so I took it turning it over in my hands. I put it on and looked at Ezio and Federico through the eye slits tilting my head. "Beautiful! Do you like it?" The man asked and I suddenly realized he was talking to me. I removed the mask and handed it back to him. I had no money to give him for the pretty and ornate mask.
The man looked a bit sad that I didn't want to buy the mask right away, and Federico spoke up. "Mia sorella e la sua volontà tornare più tardi."
"Ah, yes certainly."
Once we returned to the house, the boys broke off again to do their chores. Leaving me to wonder the house and court yard alone. It had been a little over two months since I had arrived here, and I was still discovering new places. So I decided to walk out into the large court yard, and read a book today. Although the books they had weren't typical of what I would normally read, I couldn't complain, it was in English. So I couldn't be to picky.
It was a book on etiquette. May as well try and learn something since I'm living here now. I sat down on the bench, and pulled up the dress a little I leaned back against the arm of the bench and held the book against my bent knees. Just watch the first sentence be on how to sit properly or something. I had to give a chuckle and flick through the pages. It didn't take to long though before I started spacing out from the book. Maybe a chapter in and I was already lost.
I watched my breath come out in small puffs of smoke, and float away. Hugging my knees close I leaned my chin on them and looked up at the sky. Something cold landed on my nose, melted and rolled down my nostril. Another landed on my cheek and then I could see more falling from the darkening sky. It was snowing! I remember where I grew, it never snowed. It was far to hot. I had only seen snow once before, and so I jumped up and gave a squeal as the fluffy white stuff began to quickly pile up.
"Snow!" I shouted.
"Alexis? Is anything wrong?" I heard Giovanni's voice coming from inside. Behind him Maria stood trying to hide her smile against his arm. I laughed loudly and flopped down on my back making a snow angel. I saw Ezio's head peek out from one of the window's above me. Quickly I rolled over and scooped up a hand full of snow, and chucked it at him. He closed the shutter and it hit spraying out and falling back to the ground. He opened it back up again, a wild grin on his face. He vanished from the window, to appear in the court yard a few moment's later.
"Ezio, you behave yourself!" His mother called after him as he ran out after me. He quickly ducked down scooping up a fist full of snow and started after me.
"Don't you dare!" I mock screamed and ran off with him tailing after me. He yelled something after me as we ran around the fountain. His smile was wicked as he quickly ran around the fountain. I had at some point managed to gather another snow ball to toss into his face. It missed and hit him in the chest. I laughed and pointed at him, he had better aim though. I was soon sputtering on the cold snow and knocking it out of my hair.
Now Ezio was the one doubled over in laughter. "Do you need help baby brother?"
I gave a yelp as a massive pile of snow was dropped onto my head, falling down the back of my dress. Behind me I heard another laugh. The brothers were now ganging up on me. Spitting out the last of the snow I threw a cold ball of snow at Federico, he ducked and threw another one at me. Ezio stepped in front of me like he was going to shield me from anymore. He managed to get around behind his brother, and grabbing his arms. Keeping him still for me to do what ever I wished.
"Traitor!" He couldn't help but laugh as he tried halfheartedly to escape. His already open shirt a perfect target for stuffing a pile of snow down. He gave a jump as the cold ice fell down his shirt and his brother released his hold.
He crushed me in a bear hug. "Ah cold!" I screeched as I felt the snow melting through his thin shirt through the front of my dress. As he spun around I could just make out the laughing faces of Ezio, Giovanni and Maria. He stopped after making me sufficiently dizzy.
"Thank you for that." Federico whispered into my ear as I stumbled around on my own two feet.
"Come inside children." Giovanni waved his arm at the three of us, and stepped back inside followed by Maria. She had the biggest grin ever on her face. The two brothers wiped the remaining snow from their hands, hair and faces(and shirt) as they then began to lead me back into the warm house. After I was warmed up and had something warm to drink I thought. Did I leave the book outside?
Vieri- Se non è Ezio Auditore. Non sapevo che la tua famiglia ha preso in mendicanti di strada.- If it isn't Ezio Auditore. I didn't know your family took in street beggers.
Ezio- Vai a farti fottere, Vieri.- Go fuck yourself, Vieri.
Vieri- Che ne dici se il suo cazzo, invece?- How about I fuck her instead?
Vieri- Che cosa hai intenzione di fare? Non vedo la tua banda con voi ora.- What are you going to do? I do not see your gang with you now.
Federico- Non ha bisogno di nessun altro. I due di noi sono sufficienti.- He doesn't need anyone else. The two of us are sufficient.
Ezio- Ben fatto, Alexis!- Good job, Alexis!
Federico- Lei sarebbe un Auditore meraviglioso!- She would make a great Auditore!
Ezio- Beh, meglio la sua ottenere prima di me, fratello.- Well, better get her before me, brother.
Random guy- La giovane donna bisogno di una maschera?- Does the young woman need a mask?
Federico- Mia sorella e la sua volontà tornare più tardi.- My sister and her will come back later.
