Another chapter uploaded! Woohoo! Eh, it's kind of long. It's all about the mission to save Caterina Sforza. It's basically all action. Maybe I should of spilt it into two... Nah.. Anyways, Lia is starting to get a taste of jealousy herself, haha :P Ah, well, enjoy people!
Sadly, I DO NOT OWN ASSASSIN'S CREED. I only own my OC's.
Lia sat in the huge banquet hall, listening to the people converse around her. They mainly gossiped, nothing important to her trained ear. Fiore spoke with the men who looked to be Templar officials. Lia judged this by their attire, and way of speaking. She didn't talk much, just nodded and laughed at some jokes that the women and men told. The magician obviously caught onto her discomfort and rested his hand on her hand. "Lia, are you alright dear?" he asked, a smirk still lingered across his lips.
The young woman smiled "Of course," she simply replied. She had to make an escape soon, she couldn't stick around this man. He was obviously trouble. He had to be a Templar official himself. This could prove to be bad for her in the future. Or now. Lia's blue eyes scanned the room for possible distractions, her gaze locked on a candle not far off. If she could start a small fire, people would be flustered and she could get out. She plucked off a grape from the stem and set it at the edge of her spoon. With deadly accuracy she launched it at the candle stick. The light weighted candle tipped, just a bit, but to her luck someone pounded the table and it tipped over fully. Screams and panicked cries erupted as fire lit up the expensive table cloth. Lia stood along with everyone, but instead of staying, she took the time to disappear.
She sprinted down the street, it felt nice too be back in her normal assassin's robes. She shoved aside slow civilians which gave her a warning with their words, she didn't pay attention. Lia spotted an unoccupied horse and mounted it quickly before galloping away. She arrived quite dishelved at her uncles house, he wasn't home. That was good because Lia needed to collect herself. Hopefully she never had too see Fiore again. He could jeopordize her life along with everyone elses. Lia took a deep breath, she'd just have to lay low for the next week. Till they'd have to get Caterina or whoever she was.
And that's what she did. The next week Lia didn't really go anywhere, she mainly stayed in her uncles house or the thieves guild. Ezio was out, preparing for whatever he needed to do. He hadn't been around much, not that it bothered her, much. The young woman had grown accustomed to him. She tried not to think about him all the time, but he always seemed to find his way back into her thoughts.
Lia was just about to go crazy from cabin fever when she got an important letter in the mail. It was one from her sister, Savina. She told about how she was feeling better and couldn't wait for her return. She also said some medicine arrived from an anonymous person. This made the young assassin much happier. Finally she'd heard from home, maybe she missed home.
The door to the house suddenly swung open, in stepped Ezio. "Lia! Let's go!" De-Ja-Vu.
Lia stood and followed him out, she knew it was time to see that Caterina woman. She still didn't know who she was. The young woman contemplated asking but decided not too. "So, what's the plan?" she asked her companion.
"Well, as you know I won't assassinate Cesare or Rodrigo unless the oppurtunity presents itself. Although I do plan to rescue Caterina, no matter what the cost." he stated, his pace was brisk causing Lia to jog. They stopped in a crowd that was watching as a carriage pulled up. Out stepped Lucrezia Borgia, from behind her emerged two guards with a half dressed, red headed woman. Lia felt Ezio stiffen next to her, ah, so that must be Caterina. She was beautiful. Then it hit the young woman like a ton of bricks. Ezio had a thing for Caterina! Lia couldn't stop her rising jealousy. Although she managed to get past it.
She didn't have time for that, now she had to focus. "Salve, cittadini di Roma!(Halt, citizens of Rome) Behold a sight most splendid! Caterina Sforza, she-whore of Forli, has at last been brought to heel!"
Lia was surprised at Caterina's snarky response "Ha! No one kneels as low as Lucrezia Borgia! Who put you up to this? Was it your brother or your father? Perhaps a bit of both? Perhaps at the same time!"
Lucrezia was clearly outraged, she stalked towards the red head and backhanded her. Lia heard Ezio growl next to her. The young woman felt bad for Caterina, there's no telling what they'd done to her. "Chiudi la bocca!(Shut your mouth) None speak ill of the Borgia!" she snapped then turned to the people "The same will happen to any who defy us!"
As Caterina was being dragged away she began to call out to the people "Good people of Roma, stay strong! You will be free, your time will come. I swear it!"
Ezio fisted his hands into tight balls "They're going to torture her," he growled.
Lia rested her hand on his shoulder while looking at him with determination. "Then we shall save her,"
Ezio nodded and motioned for her to follow him. They slipped down the stairs to the water. Ezio jumped onto a peg sticking up out of the water, Lia followed his every move across the water. The guards that stalked along the bridge had no idea what went on below. The young woman watched as the male assassin paused to observe his surroundings. He launched himself at the side of the Castello, successfully grabbing onto it. Lia followed in suit, they shimmied along till they got to a wooden ledge. Ezio peeked out at the small courtyard, three guards stood. He pulled out his crossbow, loading it quietly and swiftly. Lia watched as an arrow shot through the air, hitting the guard in the head. The Borgia guard stumbled to the side before falling down, catching both guards attention. The older male took this time to re-load and shoot both down.
They hopped into the courtyard as they ran across the stone ground Lia stopped to loot the guards. She got a couple of florins off them. Ezio gave her annoyed look as he waited at the top of the ladder. The brunette shrugged while smiling. She then quickly climbed the ladder to join him at the top. That's when a voice filled their ears, the voice of Cesare himself. "Forget the pope," he was saying "You only answer to me. Roma is the pillar that holds our entire enterprise aloft. She cannot waver. Which means, neither can you,"
Lia strained too see the group of men, it was the French general who spoke next "What of il Vaticano?(The Vatican)"
"That tired old mans club?" Cesare scoffed "Play along for now, but soon we will have no need of them." the Italian general turned to walk inside the Castello. Ezio began to search for a way up, Lia stepped back a bit then ran and climbed up the wall. She found a spot to hold onto and hoisted herself up, she smiled down at the surprised assassin. She scooted along the edge of the ledges to where a guard stood. She unsheathed her hidden blades and stabbed him then threw him over her shoulder. Lia swiftly pulled herself up, she checked left and right. A guard caught her eye, her was standing not too far off observing what happened to the guard. She pulled a throwing knife and hit him in the throat.
Lia watched as he tumbled off the roof to who-knows-where. She glanced over at Ezio as he jumped down from the ledge. He motioned for her to follow him. They skimmed across the ground to a small ledge overlooking the ground that was covered in Borgia guards. The male assassin looked down below, Lia watched as his hidden blades emerged and his stepped off the ledge. Her eyes follow him as he landed on the guard, his blades sunk into the poor mans neck. She jumped onto a small ledge then to the ground so the fall wouldn't be so harsh.
They exchanged looks, Lia stooped down and looted the dead man before running to catch up with Ezio. He was stealthily running along beams that connecting the outerwall and the Castello's exterior. Lia swallowed her nerves as she mounted the beams, they creaked under her weight. She cringed but no one seemed to hear. She hurried along the beams till she got to the roof of a building. The brunette observed that her partner had already killed the guards here.
Lia scrambled up the small wall and followed him across the ropes connected to the Castello. With swift agility they scaled the Castello, they stopped in front of a window. Lia could see Lucrezia inside, then she watched as Cesare entered. "Cesare," she greeted him happily.
"Lucrezia," he greeted, equally as elated. Both assassins cringed as they shared a long, romantic kiss. Weren't they related? "I hope you have treated our guest with kindness," Lia could hear the edge of sarcasism in his voice.
"That mouth on her, how I'd love to sew it shut." she growled angerily.
Cesare gave a small smirk "I'd rather like it open myself," his reply made Ezio stiffen next to her. Lia glanced over at the raging assassin. Lucrezia gave an 'oh' sound while her brother chuckled. As they neared the window the assassins ducked down, still listening. "Have you talked to the pope about the funds requested by my banker?" questioned the Italian general.
Lia peeked over the edge, she could see the jealousy glint off Lucrezia's eyes. "He is away from the Castello," she paused "And he might need some convicing when he returns."
"That shouldn't be a problem, should it?" he said rather menacingly to her. Then Lia felt slightly bad for the woman, she was just a puppet in his show.
Lucrezia shut her eyes while taking a deep breath "No," replied the cowardly woman "Only it gets quite lonely here. You and I spend so little time together these days, busy as you are with your other conquests."
Cesare cut her off as he placed his hand on her chest "Soon, once I have secured the throne of Italia," he backed her up, a threatening look on his face. "You are going to be my queen, and your loneliness will be a thing of the past." he told her.
Her voice had a lusty edge to it now as she said "I cannot wait," but suddenly he grabbed a hold of her hair.
"Behave yourself while I am gone," he then left her, against the wall. She followed out looking like she was going to burn the Castello down with her anger.
Lia and Ezio exchanged looks, both of them knew where she was going. They jumped along the ledges sticking out of the castello, they were still climbing when yells broke out into the night. "Open the gate! The captain general is leaving!" a man yelled.
Ezio looked to his companion "Machaivelli is going to be very disappointed," he grumbled to her.
"The main thing now is too get Caterina out of the Castello prison," Lia murmured too him. He nodded in reply, and with that they began to scale the Castello once again. Both assassins stopped once they heard speaking, they peeked into the window too see it was Caterina's.
Lucrezia charged towards the door "Open her cell," she commanded the guard. A fiery jealousy burned in her eyes. As she entered she grabbed a iron rod, Caterina stood to meet the blonde witch. "How was the journey to Roma? Did you sit in Cesare's private carriage?" her words were full of venom.
Lia was surprised by Caterina's defiant response "You're pathetic Lucrezia," she growled. Lucrezia gave her a harsh shove so that Caterina fell.
"What did he talk about? His plans for Napoli? Did you like it?" Lucrezia was spouting off, her aura was wild with green.
"I can't remember," was the snarky comment the red head made.
Lucrezia pulled back the iron rod "Perhaps you'll remember this!" she then let it go with all her pent up rage in one swing at Caterina's hip. The red head squealed in pain. "That put you in your place," she hissed then stalked out to the guard. "Lock it and give me the key," she commanded. The guard quickly handed it over.
Lia looked over at the angry Ezio, his chocolate eyes burned with rage. She squeezed his shoulder, giving him a look that said, we will get her. The older male assassin nodded and they were off once more, scaling the large Castello. They got to the top quickly, they began to head for the courtyard. Lia got there first so she got to assassinate the guard walking around. Ezio was already running into the Castello as Lia still looted the dead man.
Once she was finished she followed right behind him. The Castello was nice, the walls were white marble and the floors were covered in rich, red, Persian rugs. Lia descended into the dungeon quickly, she could that Ezio had already been there. A guard was lying dead on the floor. Lia didn't take the time to loot him. She hurriedly raced down the hallway, once she arrived Ezio had just finished off the guards. He had already talked to Caterina as well, he gave Lia a look that said, let's go. They sprinted throughout the hallways up to the garden where Lucrezia was.
"I love you so, I want to sing it too the heavens," a male voice was saying. Puzzled, Lia strained to get a better view, the man was not Cesare.
Lucrezia looked worried "Please! You must whisper it only to yourself. If Cesare found out, who knows what he would do," she told the man.
He seemed confused "Are you not newly widowed?" questioned said man.
"He killed my husband," she bluntly stated to him. If I was him I would have been running, Lia thought to herself.
The man did look slightly frightened "Oh,"
Lucrezia leaned towards him "Cesare has always been jealous of my attentions, but that should not deter us." she said to him.
"No?" the man seemed slightly uncertain, maybe he was thinking it wasn't such a good idea.
"I will keep our secret," Lucrezia promised.
The man's dramatic response made Lia want to throw up, "Lucrezia. Your lips call to me," he wooed. Both assassins had just climbed over the large, golden fence.
Lucrezia looked up alarmed "What was that?"
The man also sensed the sound and got up, quickly making an excuse "I am late for rehearsal. Farewell, my love," he then exited. Lucrezia stood and started to exit herself when a guard approached.
"I heard the entire exchange, mia Signora(my lady), and can vouch for it," he told her.
Lucrezia was quick to respond "Good," she snapped "Tell Cesare. We shall see how it feels when the shoe is on the other foot,"
The guard backed up "Yes, Signora," he made a quick escape. Lucrezia went over to the flowers and picked one up, like a schoolgirl she began to pluck the petals off.
"He loves me, he loves me not." she sang "He loves me, he loves me not." She was interupted as Ezio and Lia jumped down behind her. She whirled around, panic in her eyes.
Ezio stepped towards her "Please, continue. I did not mean to interupt," he smoothly told her
She began to circle him, her eyes never leaving him. It's like she didn't even notice Lia standing behind him. "Ezio Auditore da Firenze? How nice to finally meet after hearing so much," she then paused before saying "A pity Cesare is no longer here. He would have enjoyed this." the brunette woman realized immediatly Lucrezia was backing up.
Ezio took menacing steps toward her "My fight is not with you Lucrezia. Free Caterina and I will stand down." said assassin told her.
"Impossible," Lucrezia snapped, Lia was about to hurl herself at the woman if Ezio didn't.
"Then you leave me no choice," he growled while taking larger steps towards her.
Lucrezia backed up while yelling "Guards!" Lia quickly withdrew her dagger while Ezio grabbed his sword.
"No, you get Lucrezia, I'll handle the guards," the young woman barked at her partner. Ezio gave her an uncertain look but captured the blonde witch. Lia easily defeated the two men, then another four came running in. It took her a minute or so but she got them down. Ezio was already dragging Lucrezia away, Lia could hear the annoying womans screeching. The young woman launched herself down the stairs to catch the guards that had just begun to attack once more. Lia finished them off, telling Ezio to keep going so he did so.
When they got down into the dungeon he brought Lucrezia over to the barred door. "Salute Lucrezia! How I've missed you," Caterina's words dripped with posion.
"Vai a farti fottere, troia!(Go fuck yourself, whore)" the blonde shot back with equal venom.
Caterina smirked "Always a pleasure. Bring her here. I'll take the key," she then reached down into Lucrezia's corset and brought it out. "Oh, classy," Caterina shoved Lucrezia inside, the blonde went on a rampage.
"Guards! Guards!" she screamed, Lia was about to jump but Caterina slammed her head into the bars.
Caterina snarled "That's enough out of you!" Lia was surprised by this ferocity. The red head was starting to grow on her.
Ezio's eyes roved over the half dressed woman "Can you walk?" he questioned.
"No," she simply replied, Lia watched as the male assassin swept her off her feet.
He sighed "I guess we are going out the front," he muttered. That was easier said than done. Lia fought off the guards while Ezio held Caterina. The brunette also fought off her jealousy, she remembered when Ezio held her like that. As they fought Lia listened to Ezio and Caterina's conversation. They said something about a night together. What happened there? Jealousy prickled it way up again, damn, she pushed it away. Finally they reached the exit of the Castello, Ezio set Caterina upon a horse and looked to Lia as she also mounted a horse. They all rode across the bridge, Ezio told Caterina to go on to Isola Tiberina and they would distract the guards.
By this time Lia was exhausted from fighting, she thought it would never end! Guards kept coming, they never seemed to stop. Thats when Ezio grabbed her arm and began to drag her out. "Let's go!" he yelled.
"What about fighting?" she yelled back as they raced the streets, knocking civilians aside. When they came to a blockade of guards the male assassin cursed and pushed her up a building. "I can climb on my own," she hissed and scrambled up.
"There's too many to fight," he told her as they ran closely together. Lia's eyes darted around at the guards.
She looked over the edge of the building, guards were racing down there to catch up as well. "We should spilt up, meet back at Isola Tiberina," before Ezio could protest Lia had jumped across the street to another building. She was tired from fighting and climbing but she ran as fast as she could. Her hand slipped to her knives, she turned around and launched a few at the following guards. Three of them fell causing the guards to trip over them. This gave her extra time to get away, she jumped and pulled her knees into her chest. She landed in a cart of hay and waited for the guards to run past. They did just that.
Lia sighed while getting out of the hay, she picked a few pieces of straw out of her hair. With swift steps she blended into a crowd to pass the guards that stalked by. She only hoped Ezio got out safely.
Well, I'll try to explain Ezio and Lia's relationship in a less complicated way. Lia sort of likes Ezio. She thinks he's a good guy besides his man-whorish ways. That's why she doesn't fully trust him. Ezio likes Lia, but he's still hung up on Caterina. Now that Caterina has explained that she doesn't like him that way Ezio can explore his feelings for Lia. So, yup, that's the least complicated way! Anyways, the next chapter should be up tomorrow or the next day. Thanks again for reading! (review?)
-LoveToWrite14