Flesh Puzzles
Chapter 3 - Snape
Two weeks later Estelle was sitting on the rooftops late on in the evening, the sky turning into an ebony plain, waiting for her latest target to appear. The basic description of him she had been given described him wearing a set of white robes, with a large insignia of his front. Presumably wearing a hood often, she guessed he wouldn't be too hard to find amongst all of the greys and browns of the other citizens. Pulling her own hood up she leaped across the rooftops, sprinting from platform to platform, searching for that specified white speck amongst the crowds.
Then she found him, walking speedily through the bustling throng, heading in a particular direction, most likely to meet someone she presumed. Estelle narrowed her eyes at the man, and continued to follow him from above, waiting for him to split from the crowds. He eventually did, heading down a street where very few people were stationed in: it was most likely a short cut. She took this time to make a move.
The wind whistled in her ears as she bounced across the rooftops silently, her senses heightening, waiting for her time to strike. Taking now as her chance Estelle sheathed a dagger from one of her bands, then without a moment's hesitation threw it down to the ground, straight for the man's head.
But the blade flew right past him, as he moved out of the way at the last second, letting the small blade clatter to the ground. He looked around at where the blade had been thrown from, circling around to find the source. He looked up at the rooftops to find the figure in black, standing almost completely invisible against the darkness of the night, the only thing making it visible was the light from the moon. He then advanced for her, running the distance till he reached the wall, making his way up to the roof.
Estelle began to panic, but put it aside for the time being. She had a job to finish after all, and she would not fail. So, as he made his way onto the rooftop she sheathed a long dagger from the belt on her calf, holding it in her right hand. The white hooded man leaped up before her, sheathing the only weapon he had: a hidden blade.
She almost laughed at this: did he honestly run straight to her only with a tiny blade as his defence? He must be crazy, for she knew that this could only end one way. So, she waited for him to make the first move, and so he did, swinging out a fist, which she dodged with ease. Estelle spun, letting the blade slice across his chest, making a shallow cut. He stumbled, but didn't falter, getting a strong punch straight into her stomach, getting ready to push his hidden blade into the flesh. She didn't let him though, kicking his legs from out under him, causing him to drop to the ground.
He was about to push himself up, but Estelle jumped on top of him, straddling him, holding his arms down with her legs, pressing the blade to his throat. Amongst the small fight Estelle's hood had fallen down, letting her tied up hair to drop over her shoulder, and revealing her face. She could see his face too, and it made her stop. It was that same person she had met two weeks ago, up on the roof tops, whom she had given the feather, for him to give his younger brother. His golden eyes, and long brown hair, this was her target.
Ezio Auditore.
He could see her face too, but it took him a moment to realise he had seen it before. He looked on at her with a feeling of hatred, and surprise. Ezio scowled at her, glaring, "Are you here to kill me? Just like you had wrongly killed my brothers and father?"
Her grip on the blade loosened, and she stared at him with wide eyes. His brothers are dead? She never knew why he had been called to death, why she had been given this contract to kill this man. Maybe Luca was right? Maybe these people didn't deserve to die. Maybe she should ask questions...
"Why are you my target?" She questioned, "What have you done to deserve to die?"
Ezio continued to give her a glare, but answered anyway, "I killed Uberto Alberti, because he killed my family, he betrayed us. And now you are sent to kill me, to do another's dirty work? Am I right?"
Estelle stared down at him, thoughts coursing through her mind. Anger started to boil in her gut, but for what reason she did not know. She raised her dagger, aiming to puncture the skin of his throat, and kill him.
"What crime did your family commit to fall to such a punishment?"
"They were convicted wrongly of treason, my father, sent a letter to Uberto, which would clear up everything; he thought he could trust him. But he betrayed us..." Estelle looked at him as anger began to brew in his eyes. But there was innocence behind them; there was something in him that made her stop. She was drawn to him for some reason, as if she were meant to serve a purpose to him. To help him.
She dropped the blade, letting it clatter against the tiled roof.
Estelle gazed into his eyes with a harsh stare, her eyes narrowed. "Leave Firenze, never come back. I will say you are dead, and that will give you the cover you need to escape. I am letting you live Auditore, but if I ever see you again, I will kill you. Have no doubt about that."
She stood up, backing away from him and pulled her hood up, concealing her features once more. "Heed my word Auditore, leave. I am risking my life for you know, though I don't know why, and that means that if you do not disappear it will mean that we will both become fugitives."
Ezio gave her a sceptical glance, brushing the dirt off of his robes as he too stood, "Why are you doing this for me? A moment ago you were ready to kill me, and now you are helping me? What do you get out of it?"
"Nothing, but knowing that I am doing the right thing, I hope. The ones I work for will kill me; no doubt, I will be seen as a betrayer. I will lose everything I have left, but only if you are seen alive." She turned to him, picking up her dagger. Swiftly she cut at the leather that bound the insignia to his front, the curved triangle that looked like an 'A'. She had seen it before somewhere, but she couldn't quite place her finger on it. Ezio made to grab it out of her hands, but she kept it out of his reach, holding the silver to herself. "I need this to prove your death."
"Return it!" He snapped, reaching out for it again, only for Estelle to take a step back.
"I am doing you a favour! You do not know how to fight, you do not even have an adequate weapon on your person, if you stay here any longer you will die, and no one else will show as much compassion as I have." She sighed. "I have somewhere to go, I have a lot to do, and I cannot hang around here, arguing with you. Take this chance, leave, continue living, believe me, you will thank me for it."
Without waiting for an answer from him she began running across the rooftops, blending into the night.
She headed for the Spada Fiammeggiante, towards the only person she knew she could trust. Santa.
She came to the front of the restaurant, and stared at the front doors, and decided she had to take another way in. She began running along the side of the restaurant, until she found the balcony she wanted. With a run she began climbing up the wall, then pulled herself onto the platform, knocking on the door quietly.
"Santa? It's Estelle, let me in" She saw through the window by the door the blonde was staring at her, for some reason still in her uniform, which consisted of a long maroon robe, a thick leather belt synching it in at the waist, and a large circular seal on her front - the one with a feather upon it.
Santa made a move for the door, unlocking it and turning the handle, letting her friend in. "Este-"
"Quiet, nobody can know I'm here." Estelle cut her off, walking in and closing the door, then going over to the door that led into the corridor, and making sure it was locked. With a satisfied tug at it she moved back over to Santa, who was staring at Estelle with confusion in her eyes.
"Estelle," Santa whispered, making the brunette face her. "What is going on? Why are you being so secretive? Did something happen?"
Estelle looked up to her friend gently, "You know the target Captain sent me to assassinate? I didn't kill him"
Santa tilted her head, "Estelle, you know that was a very important contract, he killed one of the Order's most important allies! If you go to Nilda with the knowledge that you failed, she will execute you! You may be her favourite, but she will not allow something like this to go without punishment." Santa said a hint of panic in her voice. She walked over to her Estelle.
"I know, but I have told him to leave Florence, and never to come back. I have the seal that he wore, that should be enough proof to Nilda that he is dead. But I must ask for your help, Santa, for I cannot pull this off without you." She pulled out the curved triangle from her sheathe, where it had been attached. It was the seal that Ezio Auditore wore around his midriff, and Santa knew that instantly as she looked down at it. As she looked closer she could see old blood stains that covered the leather straps, and that some of the silver of the seal had been scratched, leaving thin lines across the surface.
Santa reached out her hand to take it, and Estelle allowed her, as she began pacing around the room silently, not making a sound as she moved back and forth across the wooden floor. "What do you need me to do?" Santa questioned, looking up at Estelle with determination in her eyes. She would do anything for this girl, as over the last three years they had become as close as Estelle had once been with another blonde. Maybe Estelle had been drawn to Santa because she reminded her of Alice so much, though they both couldn't be any more different, yet they way they would do anything for her was the same.
Estelle gave Santa a grateful smile, "I need to disappear, I am going to leave Florence. I can't stay here, I just don't feel safe anymore, and I cannot continue to follow Nilda's orders." She walked over to Santa's dresser, "I need you to go to Nilda, with news that I have been killed. Tell her that there is more than one assassin, and after I killed Ezio Auditore they then assaulted me. My body was thrown into the river, and will be too far down stream by now to be found."
She nodded in understanding. "Estelle, can I ask you something?" Santa said, to which Estelle nodded a 'yes'. "Why did you let him live? Ezio Auditore, why didn't you just kill him like the rest of your targets?"
Estelle had been expecting this from her friend, "I don't know, not really. I just felt like it wasn't his time, you know? Like he was meant for something more, and that he did not deserve to die. I felt this strange pull to him, but I don't know what... It seemed almost like something else was pushing me towards him" She answered, walking over to the balcony door, ready to leave.
"Wait, Estelle, where are you going?"
"I don't yet know, but I know that the Order has no bases apart from here in Florence, and the larger one in Rome. I will go to another city, possibly venture back to Britain where I believe I still have contacts." She opened the door, and pulled herself onto the railing, balancing on it. "Thank you Santa, you are my closest friend, and I hope we have the chance of meeting again one day."
Santa nodded to the brunette, "As do I little raven, till we meet again.Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui"
Estelle saluted her, and then jumped off of the railing, back onto the dark streets of the night. Santa knew what she had to do, and went over to her dresser, picking up the dagger that Estelle had left without her noticing. Taking in a deep breath she sliced the blade across her flesh, then again and again and again, till it looked like she had been in a harsh fight. She ruffled her hair, and then began attaching her weapons, strapping her sword to her hip. She picked up the seal which Estelle had taken from Ezio.
With a sigh she made for her door, unlocking, making sure she could get in, then went for her balcony, jumping down just as Estelle had. She would have to go in the main entrance to make this all believable. Taking in a deep breath, she stepped towards the wooden double doors. This was not the first time Estelle had tried to disappear, and she knew the last time that the punishment that had been given was none too kind. She only hoped that this time it would actually work, Santa couldn't even bare to think what would happen to Estelle if this failed.
The next day Estelle was heading for the gate out of Florence, making her way through the streets swiftly, not daring to look anyone in the eye as she passed, keeping her hood up. One viewing her from afar would have guessed she were a man, for her breasts were bound, she was too thin to have any real curves anywhere and the amount of weaponry she held seemed unfit for a woman. She preferred it being that way, for she would have no problems with men as she passed them by, making things much easier.
Then somehow she sensed it, the familiar presence of one man, the same one she had encountered last night, the same one she vowed to kill if she ever met again. She stopped, and turned her whole body to stare at the man as he rushed through the streets; two women following him close behind. He too somehow noticed her presence, and stopped the two walking with him abruptly. He stared at her with a calculating gaze, he didn't know what she was doing here, but remembered her threat from the previous night. She seemed so sincere, but the way her aura pulsed made him think otherwise, she was an ally, for reasons he did not know. He could sense that about people, in some strange way he could know where a person's loyalties lay just by looking at them, and he knew that hers was with him.
He walked over to her slowly, and stopped a safe distance from her, though he was sure that she would not harm him in broad daylight, in the middle of a street. What had she said last night? That she was now putting herself in danger by letting him live? Something along those lines.
"Signora" Ezio said, bowing his head.
She nodded to him, and looked around quickly, making sure no one recognised either of them. "What are you still doing here?" She asked, her eyes narrowed as usual. "I told you to leave Florence as soon as possible, why have you not disappeared?"
"And why are you not killing me? I believe you said that you would have me dead the next time you saw me" Ezio questioned, for he was genuinely curious. She was a strange woman, that much he was sure of. "My remaining family and I are leaving at this very moment, but I believe we will have problems getting out of the city walls."
Estelle bit her lip, and turned her head to look at the city gate about seventy yards away, eyeing the guards there thoughtfully. With one final sigh she faced him, "I can get you and your...?" She drifted off referring to the two women waiting patiently a few feet away.
"My mother and sister" Ezio answered.
"Yes, well I can get you all out of here safely, but you have to do as I say. Is that clear?" She said. She was used to giving out orders, for she had become one of the higher ranking assassins in the Order, and thus had taught many younger recruits.
He nodded, and then with one last look to the hooded girl he went over to his family. "I have someone who is going to help us get past the guards, but you have to follow everything that she says." His sister nodded, though his mother remained silent by her side. He looked over at her sadly, but motioned for them to follow. Ezio walked back over to Estelle, "Okay, what are we going to do?"
"Just stay quiet, and follow me, I will do the talking. Do not look straight at them, and put your hood down for the moment, they will find you suspicious." She began walking towards the gate, straight for the guards who then stood up tall as she approached them.
One in the middle, with a thin black beard stopped her, pushing out his sword, making her stop instantly, though she gave him a strong, confident glare. "What business do you have outside the city walls?"
Ezio glanced over at the hooded woman nervously, though she didn't waver. She reached into her tunic, pulling out a long silver chain, a short cross on the end, much more like a 'plus' sign. "I am Sergeant Carello, Captain Nilda Verde has ordered me to transport this family to Rome safely. Stand down and allow us to pass," She said confidently, as if she had done a million times before. She gave the guard a look, just to see if he would try anything. "That was an order, not a suggestion."
The guard instantly tensed, "Of course Sergeant, as you wish." And with that he stepped aside, letting the four people through.
Ezio stared at the girl by his side curiously, "Who is this Captain Nilda Vaude?"
She tensed at the mention of the name, but relaxed as they walked down the path away from the city of Florence. "Captain was my former leader, they are the one that ordered me to have you killed." She answered truthfully. Why was she telling him this? She had vowed to protect the Order and its secrets no matter what, and here she was, talking to a complete stranger who she had for some reason allowed to live. She was going against everything she had been taught these last three years.
Then, Ezio's sister spoke up, "How could this have happened to us?"
He turned and gave her a soft look, slowing down so he was beside her, Estelle leading the way. "I don't know."
"Will we ever be back..." She questioned, staring at the ground sorrowfully.
"I don't know." Ezio repeated, a tad more forcefully this time, speeding up, trying to get to Estelle's side.
"What will happen to our house?"
"I don't know!" He snapped, and Estelle rolled her eyes. It was getting rather annoying, though she couldn't blame the girl; she could only be about, what? Thirteen, fourteen years old?
His sister looked up, slightly jostled by his harsh tone, her eyes watering. "Were they... were they given a proper burial?"
His eyes softened, "Yes, they were."
They had been walking for hours now, and she accompanied the Auditore family, taking the lead, walking alone at the front. Ezio looked up at her back, taking in the way she was slightly hunched over, and how she seemed defeated in a way, as if she had just lost something that meant a lot to her. He had never thought about it, but maybe when she had allowed him to live she was putting herself in danger, and thus had to leave behind everything just to stay alive. Just like him.
He walked up to her side, clearing his throat to get her attention. The only hint that she heard him was the tiniest twitch of her hood. He spoke up, "What is your name? I do not believe I have ever had the chance to ask you before now."
She looked at him then, and she took notice of how golden his eyes were, how he had such a strong jaw line, and how he gave her a very gently gaze. "Estelle Carello." She replied softly, though her eyes were still narrowed, he noticed. From the very first time he met her eyes were narrowed, her lips pulled into a straight line. It was almost like she knew no emotions. Like she didn't know how to smile.
"I am Ezio Auditore, and this is my sister Claudia, and my mother Maria." He said, motioning to the two noble women that were not far behind them. "Where are you planning to go?"
Estelle sighed, "I do not know, possibly to Tuscany or Forli until I can get transport to Britain. I'm not sure as of yet. But, I will escort you to make sure you get to where you need to be safely, you still have no sword on your person."
Ezio nodded, and began walking down a path, and then stopped, turning to the three women, "We should be close,"
Estelle nodded to them, though they could barely see it due to her hood.
They started jogging lightly, as the day was starting to fade away. But as the continued up the path a large group could be seen before them, and instantly, Estelle felt unnerved by them.
The one in the centre stepped forward, "Good day, Ezio" He moved closer, the men behind him following. "How could you leave Firenze without saying a proper goodbye?"
At once glance to the man in front of them Ezio motioned for his sister and mother to get behind him, leaving Estelle at his side. He still doubted her fighting ability, but was sure she could take care of herself.
"Ezio!" Claudia called out, watching the men circle them with weary eyes.
He motioned for them to come closer to him, "What do you want, Vieri?"
Estelle looked at Vieri, seeing the horrible smirk come to his face. "So many things! A larger palazzo, two new steeds, a prettier bride..." He was motioning to Claudia, looking her up and down. Estelle growled at that, she hated the way men treated women as objects, and that was why she dressed as such, nobody noticed her. "Oh, and yes... your life." He sheathed his blade.
Estelle sheathed her own two short swords, going to Ezio's side protectively.
"What is this? A little boy who thinks he can wield a blade? Pathetic Ezio, even for you, to make a child fight" Vieri laughed.
Estelle ignored the insult, that she had been called a pre-pubescent boy. She was used to it after all, in this place, no women seemed to wear trousers. The result was to be expected. "I can take you on no problem, Snape." She retorted sharply, referring the resemblance he had to the Harry Potter character.
He ignored her, not understand the reference she made. "Anyway, my condolences for the loss of your father and brothers, Ezio!"
And with that the men around him rushed forward, heading straight toward the four eagerly. They obviously felt they had the upper hand, which they did, but Estelle wouldn't let that get to her. But one thing they didn't have, were weapons, Estelle noticed.
"What will happen now, that there is no one left to help you?" Vieri continued.
"Hey, I'm here you figlio di puttana! And I'm not going to let him die that easy!" Estelle snapped angrily, trying to make herself noticed.
As the first one came towards her she spun out of the way of their oncoming fist, plunging one of her swords deep into his gut, pushing him away with her boot, then moving onto the next one
Vieri gave her a snide look, but she could see the sleazy smirk that grazed his lips, and then turned his attention back to Ezio, who was standing in front of his remaining family protectively. "I have such wonderful plans for your mother and sister!"
As the last one of Vieri's men that was sent forward fell to the ground dead, he gave Estelle and Ezio a grim look. "I grow tired of this game."
"Well, you weren't exactly playing," Estelle muttered, though no one could hear her.
"Finish him, and do not spare the child or women" Vieri said, waving for his men to charge. They did, and sheathed swords from their sides, and began running.
"I'm not a kid, testa di cazzo!" Estelle shouted, tightening her grip on her blades, waiting for the men to get closer.
But they never did, as all of a sudden they began falling to the floor, dead. Vieri looked around, panicking as his men fell from an unseen force, "What sorcery is this?"
Estelle couldn't help but give him a blank stare, "There are arrows in their back, you idiot. Not that magical,"
Then she heard deep laughing, though from where she didn't know. "Not sorcery boy, skill!"
"Show yourself!" Vieri shouted.
The voice laughed again, and it made Estelle smirk. "As you wish!" Something then flew out of nowhere and hit the blade out of Vieri's hand, letting it clatter to the floor. Then a group of men appeared, a larger, older one in the centre of them. He was holding a sword, which he then threw over to Ezio. "Here, take this!"
Estelle almost laughed at the panicked look upon Vieri's face. "Kill them! Kill them all!" Then he ran away, leaving the remainder of his men to fight for their lives.
Estelle, not letting this chance of a fight go to waste began running towards them, a manic gleam in her eyes, using both of her blades to fight off the men. She noticed Ezio still defending his mother and sister, but ignored it, going back into her own fight. Soon enough – with much help to the new fighters on their team – all of Vieri's men were dead, and Estelle walked back towards Ezio, putting her swords in their holster.
Ezio raised the sword, holding it out towards the one who lead the group. He was an old man, and she could see from where she was that a long scar went through his left eye, leaving him blind on that side. "You have my thanks" Ezio said kindly.
The man shook his head, "Keep the sword Ezio."
Estelle raised her brow, "Do I know you from somewhere?" Ezio questioned.
"Don't you recognise me? It's a-me, Mario!" The man said, throwing his arms in the air.
Estelle couldn't help but snigger, turning away from them so they wouldn't see her face. "I think that's copyright infringement... Nintendo won't be happy about that..."
"Uncle Mario?" Ezio said, before he was pulled into a strong hug by the man.
"It's been too long nipote, far too long. I heard what happened in Firenze... Terrible. Come. Let's get you all away from here." Mario said, but stopped when he saw the figure at the back of the group in dark clothing, still sniggering to themselves. "Who is this?"
Estelle stopped her silent laughter, knowing that the man was referring to her. She lifted her head slowly, and then turned to face him, though no one could see her face. She dropped the hood, her long, tied up hair dropping down over her back. Mario ran his eyes over her, taking in all of the light scars that ran over her face and neck, the tight fitting clothing that was well made for running and swift movements, and the large amount of daggers that were attached all over her body, along with the two short swords at her side. The only armour she wore was the steel vambraces and a matching set of greaves. Mario could tell by the hard, emotionless set to her eyes and the way she was constantly tensed that she was a killer.
Estelle stared up at him, her eyes narrowing again, furrowing her brow, her lips pulling into a thin line. She raised her chin slightly, which she always seemed to do now when she met someone for the first time. "Estelle Carello, at your service" She bowed.
Mario smirked lightly, "A fighting woman, not something you see every day. Anyway, are you going to join us?"
Estelle thought to herself for a moment. "I'm not going anywhere else, why not?"
Ezio groaned – he still didn't trust this woman, and the way she suddenly became stubborn and arrogant annoyed him, he kind of just wanted her to leave, as horrible as that may seem. But he wasn't going to complain, she had helped his family, again, he was thankful for that.
She bounced up beside him, a faint smirk on her lips, "Alright comrade, let's go."
Yeah, I'm not going to translate some of those words, I think you can figure them out yourself.
Okay, so Ezio was Estelle's target, and though it may not seem it at the moment, she kind of hates him, so things are going to get a little rougher in the next chapters. And I expect Santa to make a comeback at some point, and you will find out why she was given that name. I actually have a reason for calling her that. It was a stupid reason if I'm being honest.
Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui – Beware of what you say, when and to whom.
Nipote – Nephew
If you liked this chapter, or there are any mistakes, parts you find confusing, or just generally hate it, please tell me. I'm open to all kinds of comments, and I want to make it better. If you feel these chapters are too long, tell me, and I will cut them down a bit, and may even be able to update every week. Thanks to those who have reviewed so far.