Chapter 4: Paint it all Red Pt 1
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Nothing! No Ezio. No Altair. I own nothing. This is purely for amusement, nothing else!
Story Info
Summary: Life or Death. That's usually what it all comes down to. But not for me. I got some thing else. I got a choice. Now follow me Olivia Steel, as I thrown into a world I never believed true and try to change a shattered future.
Pairings: Eventual! Ezio/OC, Mentions of Ezio/Many, Mentions OC/others.
Thank you for the reviews: Kairi-Loves-Sushi, SoxxyMoxxyFanfics, Chester-Grey, Isobel, LarrythePumpkinKing, Hawklan and Pretzel-logic. I always answer a review, but if I forgot to, send me a PM saying, "Seriously, Mirror, you're ignoring me?" or something to that affect, lol.
Here's where I answer the Guest Reviews, since I can't send them a reply like I did to the rest of you reviewers! Lol
Isobel: Federico might be appearing here…you just have to read and find out. :D
LarrythePumpkinKing: Thank you, glad you like Livvy's entrance to the past and how she met Giovanni.
Also special thanks for the people who have alerted this story and favorited this story! THANKS!
SORRY FOR THE WAIT! I have been writing and rewriting this chapter, talking to pretzel logic and Hawklan, but I've scrapped the idea I mentioned to them. If it seems slow in the beginning, just wait, they'll be action. It's been a hectic week, I was put back to work and then by Wednesday laid off again…until September. Oh, well, more time to write I guess. :D Anyways hope you like!
Edited: 1/22/2018
Updated: 1/26/2018
Chapter Four
"Paint It In Red Pt 1"
Apple trees. They were apple trees everywhere.
A never ending orchard as far as the eye could see, and Livvy strolled casually through the meadow with a content smile on her face. The colors of autumn were all around her. The oranges, yellows and browns leaves tickled her bare feet making a carefree giggle rise in her throat. The breeze was nice and warm and gently, making the trees gently sway as the sun shined brightly above her. She twirled the ends of her skirts about her feet. It was quiet, but a peaceful quiet.
Then suddenly her foot collided with something. Olivia paused, and looked down with a bemused frown on her face. The frown melted away into some like awe. It was an apple. A bright, perfectly crimson red and delicious looking apple. Olivia knelt down, and wrapped her fingers around the fruit before she stood back up. For a long moment, she stared at the apple then slowly she wiped it clean on her dress and put it up to her lips, taking a large bite. Then she blanched, spitting it back out.
"Ugh," a shudder ran down her spine and wiping the nasty taste out of her mouth with the back of her had. She had never tasted something so foul, and she looked down at the apple which was rotten to the core. It withered and died right in her hand and Livvy dropped it in shock. In fact, it wasn't just the apple in her hand that turned rotten before her eyes. Everything was. The apples, the trees, everything wilted and turned brown. The sweet scent turned sour, the smell of rot and death perfumed the air. The sky was now pitch black and Livvy stood alone in the darkness with silence all around. She took in a sharp breath, hysteria rose in her heart and her hands curled into fists at her sides.
This wasn't right. This wasn't a dream anymore.
This was becoming a nightmare. She pinched her arms, over and over again, but the pain wasn't enough to wake her up. Her eyes moved around nervously, the sudden feeling of being watch was over whelming. You can change nothing. The voice was sharp and vicious, filled with malice. Livvy gasped, feeling as if she was drowning in the images suddenly slammed into her head.
A blood battlefield where broken and disfigured bodies laid as if they had been thrown away. A man in a white hood stood there in the midst of it and across from him stood a person in a red hood…they started charging towards one another…then the image changed. One who knows nothing can change nothing. It changed into a house consumed in flames where a shadow dragged a smaller shadow away from the raging inferno. Every picture tells a story…pictures of a soldier, a woman, a little boy and little girl burning into nothing but ash. Sometimes we don't like the ending. The image changed and Livvy started running. Something was coming closer to her, but she couldn't let it get her. Or all would be for nothing. Sometimes…we don't understand it.
It caught her. Nails dug into her skin and held her immobile as she felt something inside her mind torn apart. Every thought, every last inch of her being ripped apart down at the soul and she prayed she didn't remember this pain, she didn't think she could survive if she remember it. And a voice shouted, "We should have left you ignorant!"
"NO! NO!" Livvy screamed, bolting off the bed with sweat pouring down her forehead. Her heart hammered against her chest, and her eyes darted around the room wildly. Her fingernails bit into the blanket beneath her, and she released a ragged breath as the surrounding walls came into focus and the shadows of night faded away. With a shaky hand pressed to her chest, she glanced over at the window. Sunlight pooled through the glass, and it was relief not to see darkness in the sky. Olivia licked her parched lips, she was sure the innkeeper would be coming to throw her out or demand another payment soon.
And that was florins she didn't have.
With a groan, she ran her hand down across her face tiredly before she managed to convince herself to get out of bed. She let out a yawn before she went to stretch her arms out over head then she let out a violent hiss as pain flared through her arm. She looked at her arm, puzzled then remembered the injury with a light frown. With a shake of her head, she strode over to the window and peered out at it. The view from the second story window wasn't spectacular by any means, but it was a pleasant view as any she supposed.
She didn't get to enjoy the view for long when nature decided to call, but then that posed the very worrying question: was there a bathroom here? What constituted as a bathroom in this time period? Her eyes moved to a door on the left side of the room. It could be a closet, she didn't exactly explore the entire room last night. She had been too tired to bother with it, but she really hoped that it was some sort of bathroom. She quickly walked over, and she pulled it open only to feel a fear twinge through her as she stared at the cast iron bowl that sat there alone in the middle of the room.
Her nose wrinkled at what she assumed was a toilet. A chamber pot, she thinks they called it. From what she recalled of the renaissance era, plumbing got better…for the rich. This inn was not so lucky. With a sigh, she crossed herself and even though she wasn't catholic she felt that it would hurt as she stepped into the room. She did what she had to do and go it done quickly. She washed her hands in the water basin on the vanity back in the room as best she could, mourning the loss of her sink, tub and toilet. The 1500th century sanitation was dismal, and Olivia sighed, sitting down on the bed.
"Alright," she told herself, pressing her fingers against her closed eyelids. Her head was bent downward, and her elbows braced on her knees. "I need to think. I need be calm and think of a plan. I need to find a way to get money, to save money…and get a really good bathroom even if I have to build it myself," she whispered out, with a heart sinking feeling in her chest. Taking a deep breath, she looked up around soaking in how different this was from home. She needed to figure out a plan; for all intents and purposes she was stuck here for the foreseeable future.
She didn't have many options.
In order to get the necessities such as food or a place to sleep, she had to do something to earn money. And a bath. She really needed a bath because she still smelled of yesterday's sweat and grim. She couldn't get a job. At least none that she could think of. In this time, women were more stay at home instead of doing manual labor and if they wished to work, one of the few jobs afforded to them was a courtesan. While she had nothing against a person who chose such a way of living because she believed to each their own, Olivia could not imagine herself as one. The very thought of letting someone…she shook her head sharply. Yeah, that was not happening.
That only left one option left.
Stealing.
Her eyes roamed over the streets as she walked up the cobblestone path. While most of the daily things of this time period were lost on her, she knew one thing. The clothing really did make the person. The people who were dressed in colorless clothes, the ones she knew were hard times and probably could not afford to spare a florin. They would be off limits. She then eyed the fine robes of a couple of men. The rich were her targets, and it was easy to pick them out for they had more colorful clothing since they afford the more expensive dyes.
She rose off the bench, carefully and without hurry. She took a breath and tried to match her pace to that of the walking group. Cautiously, she watched them part before stepped into the group, making sure not to bump them or cause them to suddenly stop.
It wasn't easy. The first time, she apologized and commented that she was in a hurry before she practically ran away flustered. The group had easily accepted. The second group, too. The third group would have, if she hadn't bumped into a man, knocking him and her right into the ground in a tangled mess of limbs. Once he got to his feet, he shouted at her, calling her everything from a puttana to a cagna.
Olivia was not one to take insult laying down. As soon as his mouth shut, Livvy replied with her own brand of insult. "Your momma's milk is old and moldy!" She learned a valuable lesson from that moment. Never insult a man with a sword, especially when she didn't have one of her own. She had turned and bolted not even bothering to apologize to the people who were shoved out of her way that time. She turned sharply down an alleyway, and when it was clear the man did not pursue her she pressed her back to the wall. This wasn't going as well as she hoped. She grimaced, and glanced down at her hurt arm. It was itching and burning. Her hand brushed up against the pouch and she realized she hadn't taken that medicine the doctor gave her.
Indecision filled her. She wasn't sure if she should take that medicine; after all, this was the time that they believed that a weekly bleeding by leeches was healthy. Or lead and pomegranate was a miracle cure. Gnawing on her bottom lip, her head fell to her side, and her nostrils flared as she took a deep breath. She tried to ignore the burn as she stepped back out into the main street. She couldn't give up. She didn't have a choice.
This time, she didn't just focus on the groups, instead she looked at everyone. How the busy street and its people moved, the guards standing about really doing nothing but talking. She kept her pace slow and unassuming; her gaze was steady though never lingered too long on one person. Staring made people uneasy. She wiggled her fingers as if loosening them up for when she picked a pocket. Stealing wasn't a foreign concept to Livvy. She had done it before back in her "wild child" phase, but stealing something from a store shelf and off a person were two different things. She struggled to maintain the relaxed posture. Focusing her eyes away from them, she held her breath as she grazed past them and her hands grabbing the purses. They easily pulled away. Score!
She didn't run, not immediately even though her hammering heart threatened to burst out of her chest. Her legs twitched as she slowly made her pace faster, weaving into the crowd when she heard the exclamation, "My purse! There is a thief about!"
Slowly not to draw attention, Livvy slipped the purses into the pouch she discovered on her belt earlier that day and continued to walk down the street away from her crime. Her hands started shaking as the thrill of success rushed through her. To celebrate that little success, she went to the market and bought her a peach. Biting into it, she savored the burst of the sweet ripe fruit on her tongue as if it would be her last. Hunger never made food had never tasted so good. The day had started out bleak seemed to be getting brighter much to her surprise. As she leaned against the brick wall, a voice nearby made her ear perk up. "Everyone knows that Salmoni keeps the people's money guarded and hidden away! Greedy bastardo…" A man grumbled underneath his breath.
"Keep your voice down!" A woman near the out spoken man snapped. "You don't want to draw the attention of the guards."
Livvy frowned. Who was this Salmoni? Apparently someone rich and important and not nice. So it's mostly like a politician, she swallowed, chewing another mouthful of peach very thoughtfully. She didn't know why, but that conversation had left her with an unsettle feeling in the pit of her stomach. A foreboding sensation that lingered over her head like a dark cloud as she managed to steal a couple more purses, and leaving her total florins sixty-two. One man had been determined to get his purse back that he had chased her half way across town before giving up. Luckily, Olivia had always been good at running.
She stared down at the coins at the bottom of the bag with a light frown. It wasn't enough for a room at the Briar Rose, but it was more than nothing. And after watching several people accosted by guards, Livvy wasn't choosing a corner on a random street to sleep for fear of the same treatment. Looking up at the rooftops, a wave of nausea hit her and she groaned realizing she had only one option. At least on that would be semi safe, where she would be out of the way and from prying eyes. Olivia spent a good hour before she chose to make herself at home on a flat roof that was lined with a black cast iron fence. With her legs curled up against her chest, Olivia let her eyes slid close and took deep, measured breath then repeated the process until her entire body relaxed and she slipped into oblivion.
Federico Auditore was many things.
A fighter, a lover, a heartbreaker, a thief, and a future assassin, but the latter was not known to him. What he did know was his father was in secret business with Lorenzo De Medici. Something illicit, something dangerous and something he wanted in on. Giovanni had been starting to ease Federico into all of it even though Federico was still ignorant of many things. His first bit of training was blending in and learning to steal without being caught had been taught by a family friend, La Volpe. Though he was not to speak of the association within anyone, save for a select few. He also went on a few missions, just a delivering letter and retrieving things.
But never had he been sent to find a person.
His mind wandered of the description his father gave him, then to why this woman was so important. His father gave him no answer, but instead he pressed upon Federico the severity of this woman needing to be found. Federico sighed, looking out the scenery with a furrow in his brow. San Gimignano was a smaller city compared to some such as Florence or Venice, but the countryside surrounded by rich grassy plains in some parts, and in others thick forests with trees as far as the eye could see. The cobblestone path smoothed out the closer they got to the city, and the carriage came to a halt as they reached the gates.
"Finally," he breathed out. It had taken a week and a half to pack and the make the trip from his home to Tuscany. He hoped the effort wasn't wasted and the woman he was searching for hadn't gone far. He stepped out of the carriage as the driver went about getting his luggage and he smirked at a group of courtesan that passed him by. They giggled, and batted their eyelashes in his direction.
At least, not all his effort would be wasted.
Livvy stared up at the treetops, traces the branches that crisscrossed like a never ending path above her before diving underneath the ice cold water. She scrubbed her fingered into her scalp, then out through her hair in an attempt to untangle every last knot. Her skin prickles, almost painfully, the longer she stayed in the pond. It may appear to be an extra measure to go into the woods to find a pond to take a bath, but those who would think that never knew the horrors of a public bath.
The horror, she shuddered, wishing she could scrub that memory from her brain. When she had first heard the public bath where the poor could go to get clean, she had thought it was better than living in filth. Olivia had seen much more than she had ever needed to see of other peoples' anatomy. It was a brief moment of genius or perhaps weirdness, which caused her to venture out of the city. It took her nearly a day to find this pond, enclosed by trees, safely out of the way and only about a quarter a mile from the main road leading into San Gimignano. She chose to venture out here every other day at least. It was a lot of effort, but she was a modern girl damnit, and she loved being clean.
Finishing with her hair, she made a funny face at a fish that was watching her before breaking to the surface causing it to flee. The wind chilled across her skin leaving goosebumps in its wake, and she ran her hands up and down her arms in an attempt to make herself warm. She swam over to the shore where she had left her belonging. As her hands went about pulled on her clothes mechanically, she thought about the two weeks she had been here. While the idea of it all still seemed hard to grasp, she had had found a footing in the past.
The light of dawn had awoken her from her rooftop beds, and she had chosen to use her early starts to run around the streets of San Gimignano. It helped her memorize the entire city. The streets and the alleyways, not to mention running built up stamina. Then she pickpocket at least a couple of purses, limiting herself to that for she was afraid she might draw too much attention or gain a reputation if she took too many. She had also kept her spending florins to a minimum meaning she had to sleep on rooftops instead of the inn.
The roofs were, believe it or not, much safer than the streets. Finally, she button up the vest she headed back towards the city. As she trotted up the way to the city, Livvy couldn't help the frown tugging at her lips. Usually she felt so relaxed after spending time in her hidden sanctuary, but today she felt a sense of wariness she hadn't felt since she ended up in the past creep on her. A feeling that something was going to irrevocable change. Running her hands through her hair she entered the gate, neither her nor the man looking for her realizing they had brushed right by one another.
"I told the man who brought her here she looked a bit foreign," the doctor was stitching up a patient while answering Federico's question. The doctor continued, "I'm well-traveled, but even I couldn't place her. It is very strange."
"How so?" Federico had nearly zoned out after the doctor's long and uninformative speech. It was not things he didn't already know, or hadn't already suspected.
"Due to her appearance, I'd say she's a nomad, a child of wanders. She doesn't have the look of just one country that I could settle on," he said, pointing the needle at Federico, causing his patient to wince as the string tugged on his skin. The doctor continued nonchalantly. "Brown hair, pale skin, light eyes…"
"I know what she looks like," Federico cut him off, calmly. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and let out a light sigh. "I need to know if you know where she went."
"Oh…" the doctor paused, before he gave light shrug. "Then I am no help to you."
"That…is abundantly clear," Federico said, dryly. He turned stalking off, with an aggravated sigh working its way up his throat. It was only a few moments later that La Volpe seemed to mystically appeared by his side.
"No luck?" There was amusement in his violet eyes.
Federico glared. "No. But you already know that. Did my father ask you to find her also?" He said, his eyebrow arched.
"Indeed I do and no, I was just intrigued to what trouble Federico Auditore could be getting into in Tuscany," La Volpe let his smirk fade and he turned serious expression. His eyes searched Federico's face as they strolled down the street. "You are looking for someone?"
The eldest Auditore child let the trouble comment slide. He answered, exasperation clear in his voice, "Yes, a young woman. She must be recluse, and keep none in her company to remain so anonymous. My father brought her to the doctor, but—"
"Ah, the woman," the master thief nodded, empathetically. "Your father asked one of my men to look after her, but she had already slipped away into the night. Her description?"
"You're willing to help?" Federico raised an eyebrow.
"I am needed somewhere, but I have a little time to spare," La Volpe stated, with his trademark smirk. "After all Giovanni would never forgive me if I allowed his son to get hurt."
Federico made a not so nice gesture that if anything made La Volpa grin broader. Finally Federico shook his head, knowing he would win a game of insults. "She is short in stature, brunette and pale—very, very pale—"
"Excuse me?"
Federico's eyebrows raised up as the elderly woman carrying a basket of flowers approached them. La Volpe surveyed the woman with a single gaze before he approached, and then asked, politely, "Is there something wrong, Madonna?"
The woman said, "That young woman you are looking for, would she happen to have a hurt arm?"
Federico blinked, before nodded. "Yes, yes she would."
"Thank goodness, someone has come looking for her. I thought she was a wee lost," the woman tapped her temple. "Poor dear, looked like a scared little rabbit trying to find its way. I told her about 'The Briar Rose'. Just down that way. If you are lucky she might be there."
A weapon.
Her stare hadn't left the blacksmith shop for about five minutes. She was considering buying one, but swords and knives were unfamiliar territory for her…well, she did a brief time at a fencing camp, but she had been eight and remember nothing except the word 'parry' or something like that. She knew how to use a gun, but when she asked, the man had no idea what she was talking about. Apparently, they would not be invented for another twenty years or so, if her memory served her well. It was probably for the best. She only knew how to handle modern guns, and messy with anything like that here would likely blow up in her face. Litertally. Running her hair through her wet hair, she thought over her options.
The weapons were expensive, but Olivia had not had the best luck. And with the sensation of foreboding crawling into her stomach, a weapon may be worth the dent in her florins. She walked up to the blacksmith and said, "I'm…looking for a knife. One that is easy used, but will last."
The blacksmith stared at her clothing, and concealed a grimace. "A present for your father?" He intoned, rather rudely.
Livvy paused, remembering women during these times didn't exactly buy weapons for themselves. Given his attitude, he also had an issue with her clothing. She made a mental note to put her cap back on before a guard decided to take issue with it. Nodding, she said, "Yes, but for my brother. His first weapon."
"Ah, a knife is a good choice for a first time weapon." The blacksmith went about searching and he pulled out a long thin knife. "Might I suggest the stiletto? While it is not good for slashing, it is good for stabbing."
Livvy nodded slightly. "Yes. I'll take it. How much?"
He told her the price and she tried not the grimace. That would take more than half of her 'savings', but she reminded herself that money wasn't good to the dead. She handed over the florins, letting the blacksmith count to check and then got the knife. She smiled, playing her part, "Thank you. My brother will love it."
The blacksmith nodded before turning to the next costumer, Livvy turned walking away bumping into someone. "Sorry," she apologized.
The man mumbled something akin to acceptance, but Livvy didn't even raise her head instead was looking down at the knife in her hands. The man was too focused on looking for a woman in a dress, never noticing the woman he was looking for just past him. Livvy slipped the knife onto her belt making sure that it wouldn't fall before continuing down the street.
After a few moments, she allowed her thoughts to wander. Why am I here? Is there a purpose or did I randomly fall through a worm hole? Her brows furrowed and her lips twisted downward. Or am I really dead and this some kind of hell or purgatory? She came to a sudden halt. A wave of sickness flooding over her as she stared at the large podium, a stage for hanging Livvy preferred to call it. But thankfully no one was hanging there today…not like the other day.
She had just walking when she stumbled upon it. Just walking when she saw the sight and it felt as if someone punched her in the gut causing her legs to buckle. She barely caught the edge of a wagon filled with hay. Her head pounded and her mouth went dry, the urge to throw up building painfully in her stomach. Her panic breathing drew stares, but she could care less. Her eyes and mind were fixated on something else. Her eyes burned with the sudden urge to cry.
It was a hanging sight.
She had stumbled upon a hanging. It was like watching a scene from a movie; she could barely believe it was real. She didn't want it to be real. But it was. Oh, God, how it was…her heart raced in her chest as blackness swirled around her vision as she stared at the woman and a child—no more than seven—nooses around their necks. A ringing noise soared in her ears and the wind blew across, the bodies shifting in the window. She dry heaved, leaning forward to make it stop.
It became too clear in that moment, she wasn't in home.
"No! Please! Let me cut them down! Please!" A man roared, running towards the podium. The guards seized him and pulled him away. No one did anything. In fact a few more jeered at him.
What am I doing here? What am I doing here? Her mind seemed to be on the edge of hysteria. People are dying and I'm…I'm just here. I'm just standing here watching it happen! Her world wobbled and went black.
Livvy awoke hours later, realizing she had fallen into the cart of hay out cold. Running a hand down her face as she shuddered, adverting her gaze. The horror of that hadn't been something she thought about or anticipated happening. It just reminded that this time was far more brutal than her own, which did nothing for her worries.
"Look. She's a short, brunette, very pale, a foreigner. She would have hurt arm," a voice came from behind her.
Olivia felt a chill rush down her spine. Her mind processed the words slowly, and she felt her stomach turn harshly because that description sounded a helluva lot like her.
"Yes, I am looking for her. It is important…"
"I don't know anyone in this century." It escaped her lips before she could stop it and she craned her head over her shoulder to look at the man. He was talking to a group, his back was to her, her eyes moved from his deep brown hair cut shorter than most men's hair for this time period, down to his nice (probably expensive) black and red tunic then they went further down further. Her eyebrows rose as she took in the perfectly sculpted legs filling out the tights not to mention the nice backside. Oh, I'd like to know you. It was then she realized she had been staring at the stranger's behind for more than a few minutes. Get your head out of the gutter!
Why was he looking for her? How did he know of her? Did she steal from him? Thoughts rushed into her mind and she started backing away. One of the men in group looked around him, spotting her and pointed.
Of all the luck, she thought with several curses on the tip of her tongue. Livvy shook her head, side to side with her pulse thumping against her temples.
"Is that her?"
Shit.
The man turned around and Livvy paused momentarily struck by his handsome features. If he had been in her time, he'd definitely be a male model or something to that affect. His proud angled jaw, long aristocratic nose and his lips perfect for giving a charming smile. His dark eyes were expressive and filled with ire until they landed on her. A vague sense familiarity tickled in the back of her mind, like she should know this man. However, she just couldn't put her finger on it. She started backing away as the man took a few steps forward. He held out his arm and said, "Hold on! Wait!"
"Yeah…" She shook her head. "No." She turned and bolted.
"Wait!"
She didn't have to look back to feel him following her. The hair on the back of her neck raise up and fear swept over her. She sprinted through the crowd, zigzagging through them trying to lose this guy. Tossing a glance over her shoulder, she saw that it wasn't working and the man was quickly gaining.
She slammed into someone, and found herself rolling on the group. Groaning, she grabbed her head where it met the ground before pushing herself slowly off the ground she glanced at who she bumped into. And cursed her luck.
She had run into a group of guards.
Oh…why does this always happen to me? She thought woefully, as two strong arms ripped her off the ground. "What is wrong with you imbecile? Can't walk with two left feet?"
Fear rushed through her and her hand went to her knife as the guard began to shake her demanding what was wrong with her and where were her manners. Then she glanced over. Her eyes locked with the stranger and then brilliance struck her. Thinking quick on her feet and fighting back a grin, Olivia turned to the guard and grasped the front of his tunic in a quaking hand, her eyes looked up at him pleadingly. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's—" She took a moment to form a believable sob, and acted dramatically as if she were the star of a tella novella. "It's that man! He was…a suitor," she struggled to find the words, "but I decline him! Now he's been following me everywhere!"
The guard looked at the other one, shell-shocked.
Livvy choked up, shedding a few tears on cue. "I…It's why I dress this way, sir, to fool him! But he found out!" She pretended to fell faint and almost fall to the ground. The guard steadied her, with an unsure look on his face. "He found out, and now he has been chasing me all over the city! Please, I fear for my virtue, sir! Who will want me if this monstro absconds with it?"
Jackpot, Olivia thought, when the guards' ire turned away from her to the mystery man. She had to make note of that for the future. Men always wished to defend a woman's virtue. Who knew that chivalry was so multi-purposeful?
Federico was ready to punch something. Normally he was not one to so easily into those urges. Every lead he got seemed to lead to a dead end and when the blacksmith told him a story of a pale girl buying a knife just minutes before he arrived, he thought his luck finally changed. Looking around the bustling market he felt like he was at wits end. He started talking to anyone and everyone, wondering where La Volpe wandered off to.
He knew the Master Thief had gone to inform some of his group of the situation, but Federico wished he was still here. Maybe he would know what Federico was doing wrong. It was times like these he wished he was gifted with the Eagle Vision like his father or his uncle Mario, but alas that passed him and fell only to his brother Ezio. Not even Petuccio had it. One of the group, he was talking to looked past Federico at something and pointed. "Is that her?"
Federico blinked looking at the man before turning around. It wasn't hard to spot her. She did stick out, especially standing there gaping back at him.
She wasn't the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but she was by far one of the most striking. Her skin was pale, like porcelain reminding him of his sister Claudia's dolls his father got from his travels, and looked just as smooth. Her hair was wild and wet, framed her slender heart shaped face was the color of bronze and copper. However that wasn't what he found striking about her. It was her eyes, large doe like eyes staring at him. The color of storms, deep blue and dark grey swirling together piercing right through him with a positively evil glare, stunning him for a moment then he saw she was backing away from him.
"Hold on," he hoped his voice sounded comforting as she took another step back eyeing him like he was about to attack. He held out his hand in a peaceful gesture. "Wait..."
"Yeah…" She gave a small shake of her head. "No." She then turned and fled.
"Wait!" He called again. Internally, he cursed before giving chase. She was clever, he'd give her that. She twisted and turned through the crowd in an attempt to lose him. However, she never made it completely out of his sight.
"Excuse me. Pardon." Federico muttered to the people that he brushed into or nearly shoved out of his way. The woman glanced back and her eyes went wide when she saw him. She twisted back around, obviously to run faster when she smacked right into a group of guards. Federico slowed his pace, with a wince of sympathy crossed his face for the woman.
The guard got up quickly and grabbed her, lifting her off the ground screaming obscenities at her and shook her violently. Her head snapped back and forth like a rag dolls.
That is no way to treat a lady. Federico's eyes narrowed his eyes, lips pulled down and he started to stride over intending on saving her when she glanced his way, their eyes locked and Federico halted as a strange gleam entered her eyes. A sudden sense of foreboding filled the pit of his stomach. That gleam was one he was too familiar with. It was one he had seen in the mirror, or on his brother's face. The look of pure mischief. Oh…no, Federico watched as she appeared to go hysterical telling the guard something. This isn't good.
The next thing he knew, he was being yelled at. "You disgusting pig, chasing a poor woman around when she clearly holds no interest! Making her dress as a man and topple into guards! Do you have an excuse for yourself pig?" The guard demanded, with breath so bad that it could wake the dead.
"Excuse me?" Federico blinked, turning his gaze to the smug looking woman in the background. He tried to send her a not amused look, but it failed. A part of him, the mischief side was impressed with the quick thinking. However as the guards surrounded him, Federico sent the woman a glare thinking, I will get you back for this.
Her lips quirked upward into a smirk, making her look like a mischief little nymph from all those fairy stories he mother used to tell them. He expelled a huff of air before he asked, loudly, "Is this any way to treat me? I just wanted to talk."
"Right," she gave a scoff, "you wanted to talk, and that's why you were chasing me."
Federico opened his mouth to say more when the guard stepped in front of him, blocking the woman from his view. "Do you mind?" Federico asked.
"I mind, stronzos like you preying on innocent women," one guard cracked their knuckles, threateningly.
Federico turned a very tired and deadpanned stare at the guard before saying, sarcastically, "Because that's your job, right?"
The guard roared and Federico easily took the man down. He leaned back, dodging a punch and grabbed the man's head and brought it down onto his knee.
As Federico dodged the fist thrown his way, he gritted his teeth. Oh, yes, she would pay. The fleeing woman turn back almost as if sensing his thoughts, and gave him another smarmy smirk.
About five minutes later, she had stopped running feeling that she put enough distance between her and her pursuer. Her heart pounding in her chest, and her breath came in sharp pants. Wiping the sweat off her brow, she pressed her back against the cold stone wall. He had to be someone she stole from. She couldn't find any other explanation why he was looking for her. But the familiarity, she tried to place his face with a frown, where did that come from? Who did he remind me of? Suddenly, she felt like being watched and glanced up to see a couple of men leering at her. It was then she realized that night had fallen over San Gimignano. One of the men made a show of licking his lips and smacking them, "She looks tasty, doesn't she?"
"I'm not edible." Livvy stated, with a sneer. She stood up, and wasted no time marching out of the alleyway leaving the creepy men far behind. After she was safely on the street with lots of people around, she allowed her pace to slow down and her stomach churned violently. Heavens help her, what was she going to do? She was already so lost, and uncertain. Now she had someone chasing her—
"Let me go! Please!"
Her head shot up and she saw a man being ganged up by a group of guards. He cried out as one of the guards backhand him to the group and the other two started viciously kicking him. A blistering anger boiled in the pit of her stomach and something in her chest tightened like a bow string. The next moment happened way too fast. Seemingly with a mind of their own, her legs marched her over to the guard and she yelled, "Hey, jerk face!"
The guard turned and he met Livvy's fist, up close and personal. He stumbled back in shock but that shock quickly turned to anger, "You stupid puttana!"
"Do you always insult yourself in third person?" Livvy quipped, with her eyes narrowed into slits.
The guard growled as some people smart enough to get her joke, chuckled. He ran at her and Livvy dodged one punch, but wasn't prepared for the kick he sent to her shin. Her legs slipped out of under her, and she threw her hands up blocking his other kick. She then twisted, sweeping his legs out from under him. Hastily, she pushed herself off of the ground only to find another guard in her path.
"Come on, Olivia, you can do better than that!" Her dad taunted her as she fell into the mud again. "Keep your legs bent. You can move faster that way, arms up to block, and always stay alert…understand?"
The guard's horrible breath drew her out of her memories with a gag, as he grabbed her arm and pulled her close.
"Dude, two word: tick tack." She croaked out, harshly. The guard shoved her roughly. She fell into some kind guy sweeping the street. Why do they sweep the streets? Isn't it a kind of moot point? She thought inanely, but a cry of pain drew her away from her thought. She jumped to her feet and snatched the broom out of the cleaning man's hand. Holding it like a baseball bat, she swung it.
"You have a big heart Livvy," her mother told her. "Too big. So selfless, you would bleed for another if it meant they'd stop hurting…" Livvy held the dying bird closer to her chest, sheltering it the best she could.
And swung it until the guard crumpled to the ground. Livvy's was taking deep, quick breaths as she held the bloody broom tightly. Her wide panicked eyes stayed locked onto his beaten form until his chest rose with a slow painful breath. The broom slipped through her numb fingers and onto the ground and she swallowed back the bile in her throat. She…almost killed…somebody, the realization was like ice in her blood.
The man shouted fighting off his own guard. "Look out!"
Livvy spun around. Well, shit.
The guard was up. He grabbed her, his fingers digging into her wounded arm and a scream ripped through her throat before she could stop it. With a hand around her throat, he practically tossed her. Livvy's body hit the ground hard, and with a sickening thud. She moaned pitifully before she pushed herself up and onto her feet. It took several heartbeats for her to regain her balance, and the guard was on her in an instant. He wrapped his arms around her, putting her into a choke hold. She gasped for air, clawing at the arm wrapped around her neck.
Never lose focus, Livvy. You have to watch your six! A voice snapped in the back of her mind, sounding vaguely like her father.
Spots started dancing in front of her eyes, and she knew she was going to pass out. She gripped the arm and used it as leverage to lift her legs off the ground. Praying she hit her target, she kicked her right foot back. The man cried out letting her go to hold his family jewels. She stood up and her hands shot out grabbing the man she was trying to help. Her eyes met his and she asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yes…yes, I think s—" He choked on his words as a blade appeared through his chest dripping with blood. Livvy's mouth dropped open in horror, and the man coughed violently spewing blood onto her face. She let out a strangled scream, her hands letting go of the body and it fell to the ground. Her scream got louder and louder until a sharp pain went through the back of her skull.
And everything went black.
Looking over Federico's bruise face, La Volpe's lips twitched in amusement. "She sent guards after you?" He couldn't help, but to tease the younger man. It was not often that the eldest Auditore boy's feathers were ruffled.
"Yes," Federico sent him a glare. The wench had outsmarted him, and then disappeared. After he fought off the guards he went the way she ran off, only to find people screaming at the sight of body. It left a knot in his stomach, he had a feeling that woman got herself into trouble. Big trouble.
"I'll have Hugo go inform your father," La Volpe's drew him back into the present and he realized the thief had been talking. "You should probably head home soon. I doubt she will stay in the city after today."
"No," Federico shook his head. "She's still here."
La Volpe raised an eyebrow.
Federico leveled a stare at him. "I know it. I'm not giving up," he shook his head, decisively. "Not yet."
The morning light hurt her eyes.
She groaned, rolling away from it wanting to sleep a few more minutes. Maybe it would get rid of the painful throb in the back of her head. A voice said, "So you are alive."
Livvy's eyes snapped open despite how they throb and she blinked at the man sitting on the cot next to her. She pushed herself off the ground, "Who are you? And what are you doing on my roof?"
"Roof?" The man raised an eyebrow. "Child does this look like a roof to you?"
Livvy narrowed her eyes and looked around. Her stomach sank quickly and panic burrowed into her heart, she pushed herself off the ground. All around her were metal bars, a cage…a cell. Past those bars was a fort, with walls nearly fifty feet high and made from solid stone. And there were men were slaving away. They looked haggard and tired and guards stood everywhere keeping a close eye on them.
The man behind her commented, "I wonder what a woman like you did to end up in a prison like this."
She stared out the cell in silent horror.
This chapter has been edited. If you see any remaining mistakes, please inform me and I will do my best to hurry and fix them.
HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED! :D
RR are appreciated.