Chapter three

Night of the Hunter

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Repubblica Fiorentina-1476

Giovanni paced in his office, the sound of his footsteps looming over the household. He was mad, upset, angry- at what? No one knew. The echoing of his footsteps lingered in the almost empty house. Maria, Claudia, and Arianna took up the space at the large, wooden table. This table wasn't situated not ten feet away from the kitchen where Arianna helped Maria cook the meals that fed the family. But this was different, Ezio and Federico said they were going on a walk, but everyone knew that was code for "we're going to waste our florins on courtesans and drink until we don't know our own names, then fuck the girls until the sun rises." Well, at least Arianna thought that's what it meant..

Arianna sat on one of the chairs, placed on the right hand side of the table, one leg curled under her butt and her hand was up by her mouth. She was biting away on her nails, something that Maria called 'unattractive', which made Arianna comment on that she: "wasn't attractive, and she was glad suini (pigs) weren't looking at her like a piece of meat". She always hated being the centered of attention. Whether it was the why she dressed, or the what she did; she didn't like the attention she got when she acted abnormally. It made her feel small, uncertain, like a doll. She was a doll either way, she supposed, someone that was supposed to sit there and look pretty.

Claudia had no trouble getting attention from men though, she was like honey for bees. They were attracted to her sweet, fiery nature, and that award winning Auditore smile. Claudia was absolutely gorgeous anyways, she didn't need the help of face paint or push up dresses. She was perfect that why she was, she even had a man. His named was Duccio and Claudia said she loved him, but Arianna didn't believe her. Arianna thinks that Claudia was in love with the fantasy, the dream, of being in love. Claudia would talk about falling in love with a name, and you could just see the warmth that radiated off her as soon as the topic was covered. In fact, that was what Claudia was discussing with Maria.

Maria was sitting there, like a proper lady, writing down something. Arianna couldn't tell what it was, but she guessed it was more chores for Arianna to do tomorrow. She wrote so quickly it was a surprise how her handwriting was so neat and pretty. If Arianna even tried to write as fast as Maria was doing at this very moment, she'd fail miserably. Arianna could tell by the way she was writing there would be plenty for her to do tomorrow.

Arianna pulled her hand away from her mouth and pushed away from the table. Maria looked up because of the sound that a chair was being dragged across the floor made shivers trace her skin, "I'm going to go see Papa." Arianna announced. Maria looked up at her and smiled lightly, obviously tired, "of course bambino (child) do what you must." Arianna smiled widely and walked out of the room. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Maria roll her eyes at the name 'Duccio'. She snickered quietly.

While she walked down the empty corridor, she stopped herself for a moment to look at a painting. It was one of a villa, stoned and high as the mountains itself. She found herself reaching out towards the picture; it looked so familiar. She shook herself out of the trace and raised her skiritng once again and walked down to Giovanni's office. She raised her hand and knocked three times. She could hear the steps stop for a moment, "Entrare (enter.)" Giovanni said, his voice sounded mustered with fake-sweetness. He probably thought it was Maria. Arianna poked her head in and soon enough her body followed. She shut the door behind her silently.

"Ciao Arianna," Giovanni said, his face giving away that he was angered by something. He held out his hand, and pointed at a chair that was directly in front of him, "do you have something you need to discuss with me?" Arianna sighed lightly and sat down in the chair in a rush, making her dress "poof" up for a moment.

"It's just that, all this talk about love is getting to me Papa," Arianna said quietly, refusing to blush, "I mean Claudia is younger than me and yet, there she is, talking about how much she loves Duccio." Giovanni looked at her and chuckling loudly.

"Trust me Arianna, all men are fools. We do not see what lies in front of us even if it was half naked and ready." Arianna felt a blush creeping itself up on her cheeks, "I'm worried that no man will take a liking to me." Giovanni gave Arianna a look, a fatherly look, "I know a few men that have asked for your hand, none that you know of course." Arianna looked up disbelieving, "you're lying." Giovanni looked at her with a smirk, "have I ever lied to you my dear?" Arianna shook her head, in a way of saying no, and looked up at Giovanni.

"Why are you so worried about this anyways?" Giovanni asked, placing his chin on his hands, his elbows resting on the table.

"It's just that.. no man has ever looked at me that way and it makes me feel... like a toy." Giovanni laughed and considering the situation, Arianna thought he was laughing at her.

"What?" She asked, trying to not sound disrespectful. Which, was becoming increasingly hard.

"It's just the Arianna that I've grown to know and love doesn't think of such doltish requests as such." Arianna laughed quietly, it sounded more like a snicker. "Well, there's a new Arianna and she wants some sort of man to take interest." Giovanni grinned, "I know you've become a gentle, beautiful, young woman. Just give it time, all men need time to notice what's in front of them." Arianna shook her head, agreeing in an odd way. Giovanni stood from his seat and looked out the window, down at the streets below.

"How did you meet Mama?" Arianna asked quietly. Giovanni was taken back by the question, but he chuckled.

"That's a story for another time Arianna, too much to tell and little time left." Left? Left for what? She wondered, "though I can tell you it wasn't her beauty that drew me to her, it was her charismatic nature; such as yours." Arianna felt her face flash red, "me charismatic?" Giovanni shook his head and grinned, "it's so liberating to see a young woman that knows what she wants and will do anything to get her hands on it." Arianna chuckled lightly.

"That sounds more of Claudia than me Papa." She placed her hands in her lap, folded nicely. Giovanni chuckled, "Claudia is fiery and passionate, but not every man likes that. Some like their woman kind and gentle, and some like them charismaticand loving." Giovanni walked over and put his hands on Arianna's shoulder, leaning down he gave her a fatherly kiss on the cheek.

"Go to bed, bambina, I heard Maria talking of more chores to give you tomorrow." Arianna sighed and rolled her eyes, "great." Giovanni patted her head and sighed, "go get a good nights rest." Arianna stood up and gave Giovanni a kiss on his cheek, "Goodnight Papa."

The morning sun shone down through the window. Arianna was sprawled out on her bed, her hair fanned out, and her white night gown up to her thighs. Very provocative. Arianna's eyes slowly fluttered open and, literally, screamed when her face was met by a bare chest. Her face became flustered as she pulled up her sheets. Ezio smirked and pulled the covers over towards him.

"Ezio!" she screamed angrily and threw a pillow at him, "don't sneak into other people's beds, half naked no less!" Ezio quirked an eyebrow, "who says I'm only half naked?"

Arianna stormed out of the bedroom and marched right into the bathroom. She looked into the mirror and fixed her hair, combing her hair with her fingers. It was volumized, curly, and slightly sexy. She put, very lightly, some coal around her eyes and smiled. She reached for Claudia's pink paste she put on her lips. She put some on and smoothed it over her lips.

"Bella, what was that for?" Ezio's sickening sweet voice came from the direction of the door. Arianna turned around and looked at him, a glare slowly coming into play. He had a slightly swollen, red cheek from where she slapped him, "you were in my bed, naked, how am I suppose to react?"

"Half naked." He corrected. Arianna brushed past him, "whatever stronzo (asshole)." She went into her bedroom, making sure the door was securly shut and got changed. She pulled on her corset and heard a voice, "need help?" So god help her if that was Ezio; he would die slow and painfully. She turned her head and noticed it wasn't Ezio, but Federico. His famous "heart breaker" smile was graced on his lips. She whiped her head around, hiding her blush underneath the needing of someone to tie her corset.

"Please?" He snaked his hands around her waist, grabbing the ties and slowly, but surely, tied her corset.

"Look I'm sorry about yesterday bella, I didn't think saying something as so would hurt your feelings as badly as they did." Arianna looked over her shoulder as she slipped on her dress and noted he wasn't fully dressed either.

"It's okay I over reacted if anything. I should glad if anything." Federico cocked his head slightly, "glad of what?" Arianna chuckled girlishly low and turned her head so he could see her eyes, "that someone could possibly think of doing that with me." Suddenly, arms enveloped her waist and she was pulled backwards into some hard. She noted that it was Federico's chest.

"You're too carina (cute) Arianna." He kissed her cheek affectionately and that's when she heard the door squeak open.

"What are you two doing?" It was a shrill voice: Claudia.

After explaining the situation that happened before Claudia, rudely interupted, it was all okay. Claudia understood. When Claudia stood up from Arianna's bed she snapped her fingers together, "Mama wanted me to get you and bring you downstairs, she has more chores of you." Arianna erupted with a loud sigh, not again.

It had been nearly three hours and Arianna was still wandering around town. She had ran the errands that Maria needed to be done, but now she was bored and was looking for some entertainment. She walked down one lonely back alley, nothing was moving. When she came out of the alley, she noted the grouped footsteps coming from behind her. The clinking of metal-guards. Arianna glanced over her shoulder and she was right, a group of guards were following her. She reached up on the wall and with one hand (the other one holding her skirting) she hoisted herself up onto a window, then onto a beam, and finally another window. The roof was within reach.

Once on the roof, she looked down. The guards silently scratched their helmets and lingered the look down the two alleyways the main one spilt off into.

Good, she thought. They don't know where she was. She silently prayed that today wasn't going to be a 'chase' marathon with her and the guards. She slipped onto another roof, and from there she went roof to roof until she jumped down. She landed hard, she could feel her ankle twist in an odd fashion making her yelp. She straightened up and tried to step forward. A serge of pain ran through her leg, making her tear up. She sucked it up and noticed a doctor nearby. She limped over towards him, and once in front of him she asked for his help.

"Dottore, credo che mi sono fatto male alla caviglia (Doctor, I think I hurt my ankle)." She said lightly, lifting up her skirting to show a slow and easy bruise coming through her skin. It was swollen, a large bump was placed there.

"Oh cara (Oh dear)..." he said softly and pulled out a stool, "sit." She listened to the doctor. He hoisted her ankle up on the table and examined it. "Oh good, it only looks sprained. Did you land on your feet hard?" He asked, slowly wrapping the injury with white tape.

"Si (Yes) I was walking and was in a slight hurry, I tried to jump over a few boxes... and ya." She scratched the back of her head and laughed lightly, "Sorry dottore (doctor)." He chuckled, the bird mask shaking lightly, "it is alright cara (dear)." He stopped winding the injury and smiled, "60 florins." She reached into her pouch and handed him sixty florins, her change from the tailor yesterday.

"Thank you dottore."

"You're welcome bambina (child). Now off you go." She nodded her head and lifted herself off the stool, and as she turned her face was greeted with the smell of sweat and blood. She silently gagged and looked up, again Federico stood in front of her and Ezio next to him.

"Ehi(Hey) Arianna." She looked over at Ezio, still a bit angry with him, but all that anger went away when she saw his lip bleeding, a deep gash residing.

"Per l'amor di dio (for the love of God)..." Arianna sighed, "what did you do?"

While Ezio was getting fixed up Federico explained how him and Ezio took on Veiri and his men. Ezio took care of most of them, or at least that's what Ezio said and then the doctor smacked him over the head and told him to stay still unless he wanted the medicine to go in his mouth.

"There, all done." The doctor pronounced, letting Ezio stand up. Ezio looked at Arianna, and for some reason that scar looked really sexy. It made her shiver with a slight delight, and Federico noticed this.

"Cold?" Arianna looked at Federico, "peakish." Ezio chuckled and wrapped his arm around Arianna's shoulder and pulled her close, "I can see that." Ezio's fingers slowly rubbed on her shoulder, teasing her. Arianna pushed Ezio off of her body, though she really didn't want to, "stop it you sweaty monster." Though, she admitted to herself, his sweat almost smelt good- kind of like a musk. She shivered agian and Ezio pulled her towards him again, "body heat is the best way to warm up." Federico smirked and closed in on the other side of Arianna, "I can show you how to warm up quickly in letto (bed) later." Federico blew into her ear, sending more shivers down her back.

"Stop it!" Arianna cried out, shivering again as Ezio pulled her towards him some more, "didn't you hear her Federico? She wants me to show her later, right bella."

"I'd rather have Veiri show me how to warm up in bed you assholes." She seethed, although it wasn't true. She wanted to feel Ezio's hands on her. Letting his tongue trace circles on her skin. She waved to both of them, "Good bye boys, I'm going home." She was already down the street before they could say something. She really needed to find an outlet to get her desires of Ezio out of her mind.

A/N: I don't know why I updated so fast, but I did and you should like it (I hope...) Review please, it means a lot to me! It makes me want to write more, though I like writing this story so there will be more to come. Perhaps not tomorrow because school and work don't mix, but we will see! :)

Edited: November 30, 2010