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, dragonsire13, Soxxy Moxxy Lacks A Lung, Hawkbelly, and My Ashland for your reviews. Thank you all for all the follows and favorites and readers! You guys keep me going.
Is it sad when I'm writing this, I have moments where I'm like hey this could be a memory where you have to decline or accept and can see that in my head? Probably is. Enjoy!
Chapter Inspired by:
"You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" by the Offspring
Edited: 4/3/2018
Updated: 4/4/2018
Chapter Nine
'Fast Thieves, Bar Brawls, and Mona Lisa's'
On Route to Florence
Marcialla, Tuscany
1474
String.
Olivia weaved it around her middle finger on her right hand, with thoughtfulness and great care. The red and white string, she had gotten from a tailor shop on a discount because it had come from a bat batch. Her grey eyes flickered around the village called Marcialla they stopped had taken refuge at for night, and to Ciana who bartering the stable hand for a horse. Firenze was by carriage two days from San Gimignano, but longer by foot. It would make things significantly easier on them, if they were able to procure the stead. Securing the string with a tiny knot, she ran the pad of her thumb over it tightly woven band. As idle as her action may appear, the string had a purpose that was important. When she was younger, she would find her mother busy moving around the kitchen—strings all along her fingers.
"What are the strings for, mommy?" A four year old Olivia had asked her mother.
Her mother smiled serenely. "To help me remember. See when I have something to remember, I tie a string to my finger so when I see the string, I'll remember what needs remembering."
The four year old nodded her head, though she really didn't understand it one tiny bit.
Her stormy eyes regarded the strings on her fingers with a solemn, if not sorrowful look. It was a silent promise not to forget what she was striving for, a little reminder that would act as a guide and friend to keep her along her path, and make her remember what she intended to do here. Her chin lifted when she saw Ciana walked away from the stable hand in a quite a huff, and she cocked her head to the side. "Went that well, huh?"
"What do you think?" Ciana scowled, her green eyes flashed with anger. "The bastard. I offer him more than a fair price on a cazzo horse, and then he says that he wants more than coin and grabbed my ass!"
Olivia's spine stiffened. Her eyes flickered towards the man, and any trace of amusement seeped out of her expression. "Do you want me to take care of it?" She asked, narrowing her eyes on the stable hand.
Ciana seemed to contemplate it, before her shoulder slumped with a great sigh. "No," she said, with a small shake of her head. "Men like him aren't worth the effort."
"If you are sure," Livvy said, studying her for a second.
"I am."
"Alright then. Let's go to the tavern and get something to eat before we find a place to rest for tonight," Olivia suggested, her stomach growling. Her cheeks turned red when Ciana laughed because it was not a quiet noise.
"I think that would be for the best before your stomach decides to devour itself," Ciana chuckled. The two turned and headed towards the tavern and had almost made it when a shifty looking man approached them. It was not his clothing, or his appearance that made Olivia instinctually wary to him. It was the way he held himself, the sly and slick gait that reminded her of herself when she was on the prowl, preparing to steal something.
"Messer Red Hood," the man spoke up, he intelligent dark blue eyes locked onto Livvy. A quirky grin was on his lips, his perfect olive toned face lit with mischief. "You are the Red Hood, aren't you?"
Ciana made a disgusted noise. "I told you to change your clothes."
Livvy repressed an eye roll, and kept her focus on the man. Her lips curled in a sharp sort of smile, and she stepped forward to place herself between Ciana and the perceived threat. "That depends on whose asking," she replied, the handle of the stiletto dagger in the palm of her hand.
"I am D'Angelo," the man introduced himself, without hesitation. "I've heard that you are one of the fastest thieves in all of Tuscany. Care to put it to the test?"
Olivia momentarily was taken aback. It had not been what she had been expecting in the slightest, and laughter bubbled up out of her like a babbling brook. She had never thought that the races had been actually true, chopping them up to a game dynamic meant to help the player hone their skills. "You mean you wish to race me?" Livvy asked, endlessly amused by these turn of events.
"What else?" He added with a cheeky grin, "Unless you are afraid of a little competition?"
"What would be the terms?" Olivia asked.
"We race across the creek, down the steep hills and around the farms, first one back to the town," the man told her, "gets 200 florins from the loser."
It was a bit of a gamble to bet such money. Her pockets weren't exactly lined with gold despite popular belief, and if she won such a gamble would be worth it. "Very well," Olivia agreed, feeling a tremble of anticipation rush through her blood. It wasn't often that an opportunity came along that she could make coin without a bit of danger involved. "Ciana," she glanced at the courtesan who watched her with amused eyes, "count to three."
"You…are an idiota," Ciana sighed, fondly. She stepped out of the way as the man and Olivia stood side by side. "One…" Livvy bent her knees, preparing to sprint. "Two…" Her limbs tensed, watching the man out of the corner of the eye. "Three!"
She was off. Her legs carrying her as fast her across the dusty and rocky road. Euphoria tingled through her body, vibrating through her limbs from head to toe as nostalgia filled her lungs and heart. Memories of summer days before everything had turned so dark, chasing the sun towards the horizon and impossibly trying to catch it. The wind rushed past them, howling against the shell of her ear and blistering sun caused beads of sweat to dot along her forehead. The creek was not deep, but Olivia sought rocks in effort not to slow herself down. Water splashed and soaked her ankles, her eyes darted towards her competition.
They were practically neck and neck.
Olivia pushed herself further and harder as the shadow of the cliff side fell over them, and she had a sinking feeling in her chest that she would not be able to keep up this pace for very long. Her competition was fast, and she knew that he could easily win this race if she didn't think fast. The climb up the hill made her shins and thighs ache, Olivia gritted her teeth together with her eyes scanning for any sign of advantage. They reached the top of the hill, and got an spectacular view of the valley below. She sadly didn't have time to spend admiring it all, and her eyes fixated on the few buildings that were up here.
More importantly the pulley system attached to the top of the house. Her heart shivered at the thought of the height of the cliff, nearly a fifty foot drop, but something in her spurred her off the path, earning a weird look from the thief. She climbed the side of the building in haste, and her foot slipping, but she caught herself. She pulled herself up on the rooftop, and unhooked her bag from around her shoulder. She leapt forward wrapping it around the ropes after checking their tautness and leaped off the roof without allowing herself given another thought. If she thought about it then she wouldn't be able to do it. The world swirled around her in a mess of colors and her stomach flew up into the back of her throat, her heart felt like it had stopped in her chest.
There was something that unfurled inside of her. A burst of freedom so sweet that it overrode the pungent taste of fear that coated her tongue and her heart began to beat anew. The ground approached quickly, flying up at her and she released her handmade zip line to drop into the water below. Her body plunged beneath the surface, and she kicked towards the surface. A ragged gasp tore through her when she broke through the water world, and with a short swim, she got on solid ground. She heard the thief's surprised laughter and Olivia looked over her shoulder to see the thief running down the hill. Rising on her shaky legs, she resumed her running with great effort down around the farm lands, startling the workers who looked in confusion at the soaking wet person running from nothing.
"Only the wicked run from nothing!" One onlooker proclaimed louldy, but Olivia didn't care.
The town was within arms-reach. With each sprint the town drew closer and closer, and as soon as her foot hit the edge of the town, she threw her hands up and let out an elated yell, "Yes!"
Olivia had won, though she did wonder if the thief would honor the agreement given her colorful way down the cliffs. She leaned over and took in deep, breaths trying to sooth her burning legs. Her feet stumbled, her legs literally feeling like jello. She really needed to work more on her stamina. "Did you see me?" She asked Ciana, loudly.
"You look like a drowned rat," Ciana laughed.
She probably did, but it did not dull the satisfaction humming through her veins. Her stomach pitched when she thought about the drop down the cliff she did, but she had to remind herself that she was safely on solid land. She straightened her posture when her competition approached her, but judging by the big smile on his face there were no hard feelings for her burst of ingenuity.
"I cannot be mad," D'Angelo said, as he handed over the money. "Ingenious such as that should be rewarded. It was a good race, mi amico."
"Indeed it was," Livvy nodded, shaking his hand. Though she was going to hold off on future racing, the way it had left her muscles felt like they would ooze right off the bone into a pile of mush. She spoke a little bit to D'Angelo further, and he told her that he could always be found in Marcialla. She stored that information away, and they parted ways with the thief. The bistro was noisy, but warm and comforting. They had gotten a seat in the corner, and Olivia thanked their server when she brought them their drinks. Olivia slid the courtesan her drink, and watched Ciana glared at a couple of men eyeing her up. The courtesan pulled out her knife and cleaned her underneath her fingernails. The men got the point and turned away.
"Pigs," Ciana muttered.
"Hey now," Livvy stated offended, "don't say that." Upon Ciana's incredulously look, she added with a broad smirk, "You'll offend the pigs."
Ciana gave a small laugh before it withered away, and she looked down into her drink. "I wish we were already in Florence. I hate small town idiots," Ciana muttered, darkly.
"It could be worse," Livvy told Ciana, before sipping her drink. Her faces muscle clenched as the sour taste washed into her mouth and she set the cup of foul liquid aside with a wrinkle of her nose. It was official. She hated 1500th century food. If she was going to get any decent meals, she was going to have to cook for herself. Livvy started picking at the chicken in front of her. "We could be broke and have to sleep on top of a roof."
"Who in their right mind would sleep upon a roof?" Ciana gave a snort.
"Hey now," Livvy said, with a half-smile. "Don't knock it before you try it."
"Perhaps," the courtesan mused, "I should have stayed in Tuscany."
"Then you wouldn't be here enjoying my company," the Red Hood grinned.
"Enjoying isn't the word I would use."
"That's okay. You'll eventually come to love my brand of insanity," Livvy assured the courtesan, tossing a piece of the burnt chicken in her mouth. It was tough and hard to chew, but the herbs on the meat made it easier to swallow.
"CHEATING NO GOOD BASTARDO!" A woman's shriek cut over the noisy and rowdy bar. A ripple seemed to move through the crowd, and people were careful not to look the woman in the eye, especially the group of guards in the corner.
Her brows lifted to her hairline as she watched the woman march up to the bartender and demanded that he tell her everything he knew. When the man backed away out of her reach with his hands help up in surrender and a terrified look on his face, the woman growled out, "All you men are pigs! Pigs, I tell you!"
"Oh, look Ciana. There is a new friend for you," Olivia whispered, gesturing over to the woman with a slight grin.
The courtesan didn't look amused. "I try to stay away from women scorned."
"Why?" Upon the dry look she received, Livvy held up her hand. "Never mind. I got it. I was a bit slow on the take up, but I got it."
Ciana shook her head slowly. "Your words…are so strange."
"Yeah…what of it?" Livvy questioned, trying to appear nonchalant, but a ball of nerves and anxiety twisted in her stomach as well as a longer and need to tell someone her story. However, she bit her tongue. She didn't want to send one of her two friends, running thinking she was an insane psycho.
"Nothing." The courtesan shook her head. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't talk funny."
Olivia wondered if she should be offended, or not.
"Damn that bastard. Cheating on me again," the scorned lady hissed, underneath her breath. She was a fairly young woman, maybe in her mid-twenties yet stress had already settled lines into her face. "And the rest of you, bloody cowards. No good men left to stand up for decency and morals and willing to beat my pig of a husband."
Livvy felt a twinge of pity. It was worst kind of pain to have someone swear love and devotion, only to break it at every opportunity. She didn't know the full scope of that pain, but she knew enough.
"Was going to even pay to have the bastard's face beat in."
Olivia perked up, slight at that.
Ciana shot her a look. "Never mess with a woman scorned. It never ends well."
"I could be careful."
"I've seen your version of careful and frankly I am not impressed."
Livvy would have normally agreed, but let it float in one ear and out the other. Perhaps that race had left her feeling that fortune favored her, but coin was coin. She had no skill set for the time period, save for her thievery and that wasn't exactly kosher. If opportunity to make good clean coin came around, she should seize them when they appeared. Less stealing she had to do, and less chance of being skewered by the guards. Draining the rest of her drink and fighting her gag relax, she rose from her seat. "I'll be back shortly," she told Ciana, who just looked at her like as if she measuring her casket.
Olivia approached the woman, hands clasped in front of her. "Good evening, Madame," she spoke, in her "male" voice. She wasn't sure why it seemed so convincing to everyone, but she wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. "I couldn't help overhear your…predicament and wanted to offer my help."
The angry woman whirled around, resembled more of a dragon with tongues of flames shooting out of her snout. Her lips parted with no doubt venomous words, but then she paused, her eyes focusing in on Olivia. She seemed baffled and shocked. "You are the Red Hood, yes?"
Olivia felt unease crawl across her skin. She had been recognized again, but she supposed the red cloak was a big give away. That paired with the new infamy she lived by, she supposed it was only natural for the woman to ask such a thing. "Yes," she said, then immediately regretted it. A calculated gleam entered the woman's eyes, and she felt dread tap along her spine like the fingers of death. In for a penny, in for a pound, she thought, warily.
"Ah, Messer Hood, I've heard so many things," the woman sighed, her demeanor changed in an instant. She had gone from a scowling, bitter woman to a blushing, young lady in the blink of an eye.
Olivia wondered how anyone managed to make themselves blush, and also cursed the rumors that Ciana started. She was about seventy-six percent sure that the jilted woman was flirting with her, and had a feeling that her supposed "amorous" reputation was about to bite her on the ass. "I can imagine."
The woman stepped forward, a coy smile on her lips. "I would appreciate any help you have to offer, and I am willing to pay any price."
"Coin will do just fine," Olivia clarified, swallowing down a nervous giggle. She prayed that this woman would make no advances on her because that would become awkward. For one, Livvy wasn't attracted to women like that. Though she lacked a full blown sexual experience due to certain phobias, she had learned enough to know she preferred the hardness of a male body to the softness of a woman's. Secondly, if it came out that she lack certain appendages that the Red Hood was supposed to have then things could get sour quickly. All it would take was a wrong grope or squeeze to find that she didn't exactly the right equipment between her legs to be the licentious seducer that stories said stole women's virtue and more.
I should have taken Ciana's advice.
The Auditore household sat at the long mahogany table, with warm food spread out across it and chatted amicably between one another. Federico watched Petuccio speak to their father, his voice low and still weak from his latest bout with sickness. His color had improved though, and he was extremely thankful for that. Claudia teased Ezio about his beloved Cristina. The Vespucci woman had stolen Ezio's senses, and their parents were confident given enough time that it could become a good match. Federico would have to help guide his brother; he was horrible at trying to woo a woman. Lifting his spoon to his lips, Federico halted when Annetta came running in with a letter in hand.
Giovanni looked equal parts surprised and worried. "A letter? At this hour?"
"It just arrived," Annetta replied, with a small nod. "It's for you, Ser Federico."
There was a flicker through his dark eyes, and he reached out to accept the letter from Annetta. He felt his family's curiosity press in on him, and he sent a quick smile at Annetta. "Thank you."
She blushed, prettily before she left the room.
"Aren't you going to open it?" Claudia asked, unable to curb her curiosity any longer.
"Claudia," Maria admonished her daughter.
"Oh, come now, mother," Ezio grinned, broadly. "You are just as curious as we are to know who would be sending Federico letters at this hour."
Federico glanced at his father for permission. When Giovanni inclined his head, the eldest Auditore child used his knife to slice open the envelope and retrieve the parchment that lay within. He unfolded it, and immediately recognized the strange bubbly script as Olivia's. His eyes slightly widened, and he sat forward, reading the short letter intently. She wrote about the dangerous climate in San Gimignano and that after much struggle, she had chosen to leave the city. Seeing how Firenze was only a few days travel depending on way of transportation, Olivia implied that this was her chosen destination.
She ended the letter with three simple words: See you soon.
Federico couldn't fight the grin on his face. All of the personality that he had seen beneath the wary and skittish surface for the most part of their interactions in Tuscany, bled through her words written on the page. Her quirky description of all that had transpired in San Gimignano to her swearing that she saw the Red Hood—"a crazy man swinging about rooftops, likely to break his neck", she ranted in her letter—to her complaints on traveling. He could practically see her vexed expression, the way she spoke with her hands and scathing tone in her voice through it all.
"Whose it from, Federico?" Maria inquired, while Giovanni was gauging his son's expression.
Federico jolted. He had completely forgotten about his family, to his shame. "It's nothing," he cleared his throat. "Just a small message from a friend."
"A friend, hmm?" Ezio smirked, an eyebrow arched. He had a twinkle in his golden eyes, and he shared a mischievous look with Claudia. "Could it be your mysterious woman you've been sneaking letters off to?"
"Mysterious woman?" Maria asked, her dark eyes met her husband's who looked equally as amused as she did. "You have not told us that you have found a female of interest, Federico."
Federico blushed though he'd deny it later, at the teasing. "She's just a friend. There's nothing to tell," he shrugged, setting the letter down by his plate. He feigned nonchalantly while picking at his food.
"A friend you are constantly writing too," Claudia decided to chime in. "Everywhere I go in the house, Federico has a paper and quill in hand."
"Bah!" Federico flicked a piece of his food at his sister who gave a screech of outrage. Petruccio giggled behind his hand, while tossing a piece spinach at Ezio. Ezio's mouth dropped open, and then he grinned, a hand shooting out tickling Petruccio's side.
"Alright! Alright," Giovanni held up his hands and instantly everyone quelled. There was no anger on his face, instead a great love and fondness glowed on his features. "None of that at the table. And Federico," he garnered his son's attention. "I look forward to meeting this friend of yours."
Federico stilled, for all of a second. "Of course, Padre. I'm sure she'd be delighted to meet you," he stated, without batting an eye. If his father ever put together that the woman he wanted Federico to find and presumed had died, was his mysterious friend…he did not look forward to his father's reaction.
"She must be quite something to gain you attention brother," Ezio shot him a grin.
Federico just smirked. "Don't even think of it, Ezio. She would eat you alive."
With no small amount of reservation, Olivia trailed after the woman to her enclosed garden. The bartender was convinced with a glare—the deadly glare that put the fear of God into a person, she had inherited from her father—and a few curt, cold words to disclose the information he had known. It also summed up why she hated small towns. Everyone knew everyone else's business, and not in the fun way that the television show Cheers made it seem.
"My husband thinks he can get away with doing this to me. Well, he is in for a surprise now, isn't he?" The woman ranted, underneath her breath.
Livvy hesitated, wondering if the woman was looking for some kind of reassurance. Instead, she felt it best to stay silent. She had the strangest feeling that she was about to be in over her head, and cursed the untouchable high that she had been left with after the race with D'Angelo. Gotten too big for my britches, she thought, swallowing a hefty sigh.
"We are here," the woman gestured to the garden, a fierce scowl on her features. There were moans and the sound of flesh slapping against flesh that left no illusions of what was happening. "Time to see what puttana he has been consorting with."
Olivia blinked. "No, I think that I should go alone…"
Her protest fell on deaf ears. The woman marched into the enclosed garden, and a swear word dropped from the Red Hood's mouth. She hurried after the woman, hoping to prevent the situation from escalating any more than was necessary. She entered the garden, and recoiled back at the sight of the half-naked man thrusting upward into woman whose skirt was hiked up around her waist. That was more than she needed to see, and she was pretty sure the image was going to branded on her corneas. She shuddered, her hand blindly reaching for the woman to drag her back out of the gardens before it was too late.
The wife had other ideas.
"Bastardo!" The wife roared.
The man and his mistress jumped apart.
Olivia gagged, looking away from the sight. This was more than she signed up for. The games never depicted these illicit affairs so graphically. Why could real life mimic that in this instance? When she got back to the tavern, she was buying more of the horrid alcohol to block this from her memory. Her eyes then looked at the armor that sat on the ground beside the cheating man and his mistress. Oh, shit. That's a Captain's armor, the thought rushed through her him and her eyes flickered back towards the man, more wary than before. That would have been nice of her to mention before now.
"What the hell is this?" The Captain demanded, not even bothering to pull up his pants. He didn't even attempt to hide the fact that he had been basically screwing his mistress from his wife, and glared at her with annoyance.
"Payback," his wife snapped, venomously. "You thought you were the only one with a lover? Where do I think I've been sneaking off into the middle of the night?" The wife sent a scathing look at the mistress. "What is your puttana compared to my Red Hood?"
Olivia felt her eyes close in despair, and she could practically hear Ciana telling her, "I told you so." There was a tightening sensation around her neck, like a noose, and if the Captain has his way, it would be a literally one if his rage was anything to go by. "This was not in the job description," Olivia hissed, darkly.
The woman blatantly ignored her ire, and flung into Olivia's arm. The Red Hood caught her, and barely moved her to the side to avoid a slobbery, wet kiss on the lips. Instead, it landed on her neck and grossed the thief out. She didn't like touching all that much, and having someone cross a clear boundary made her blood heat up with irritation. She tried to shove the clingy woman away, when a bellow echoed into the night. The woman immediately broke away from Livvy, and just in the nick of time for the Red Hood to catch a fist to the face. Her teeth rattled in her jaw, and she reeled backwards a couple of steps. Blood dripped down out of her nose, and she reached up to touch her face in mild shock. Shit, shit. Not part of the plan. Not part of the plan, she thought, this time dodging the punch.
The Captain snarled, redoubling his efforts and tried again. Livvy growled, jumping back as his fist contacted with her shoulder so hard that it popped. "Okay, I'm going to give you one warning—" He tried to hit her again. "No second chances," she snapped and with all the strength she could muster up, she kicked him right between the legs. It was his fault, Olivia decided as she watched him fall to the ground with a loud squeal of pain. He didn't put his pants back on, and wouldn't stop attacking despite her attempts to dissuade him.
The wife and mistress gave a cry of despair at the manner of the Red Hood's attack. The rogue didn't understand why. It wasn't that impressive in size, and she knew that thanks to the internet and movies. The mistress and the wife ran to the man's aid. Livvy caught the wife by the arm, and stopped her. "My pay?"
"You'll get no florins from me, fiend," the wife snapped.
"And here I thought we were going to run away together," the Red Hood rolled her eyes before looking back at the Captain. "That's what you get for messing with the Red Hood." Then she walked out of the enclosed garden, and then came to a halt. There was a crowd of people, just standing there and waiting. Whether they had come to see the outcome of the fight or to watch the mistress and Captain get it on, she didn't really know. And really didn't want to.
"Seriously, people? Get a life, or go get laid!" She barked out, vehemently. She took out the white hot frustration coiled in her gut on them. She marched through the throng of crowd that dispersed, a trail of whispers floating behind her. She shoved the coin purse that she nicked off the Captain's wife into her satchel on her hip. "And here I thought I was going to make an honest florin."
It took her only a couple of minutes to return to the tavern. Her skin prickled and her stomach rolled, if she had been a cat then her tail would have between flicking back and forth with an ill-tempered. The courtesan smiled, knowingly when Olivia approached the table. "Judging from you sour expression, I say things went not as well as you planned."
"No," Olivia sighed. "It didn't. You were right. I was an idiot."
The Red Hood disclosed the tale and Ciana laughed so hard, she had tears in her eyes. "Oh, hehe, oh, you poor, dumb idiota," the courtesan wiped her eyes on the back of her hand.
Livvy rolled her eyes, but couldn't deny it. It had been stupid and impulsive. Suddenly, the mood of the tavern seemed to change at the drop of a dime. The air grew taut, and the talking ceased all together. Craning her head over her shoulder, Olivia felt her eyes widened when a group of guards walked into the inn. "Oh, ain't this a bag of dicks? I had a feeling that my beat up the cheatin' husband thing would reach a whole new level of backfire. It seems my fears were well founded."
"What does that mean?" Ciana inquired slowly, her eyes darting from Livvy to the group of guards.
"The wife's husband…may have been a guard," the Red Hood answered slowly, pulling her hood down farther to hide her face.
"A guard?" Ciana hissed.
A guiltily grin made its way onto Livvy's face, as she amended, "A Captain."
"A Captain?" Ciana said, in a strangled scream. "Are you mad? What were you thinking?"
"I didn't know until I caught with his pants down," Olivia defended. "Literally," she added, her teeth gnashed together. She saw the guards fan out, and start to search for someone. That someone was her, of that she had little doubt. "Head to the door with our things. I'll meet you out there, and prepare to run."
"I am not just leaving you!" Ciana glared.
"Just trust me and go!" Olivia grabbed a booze bottle from the floor, twisting in nervously in her hands. "Don't worry. I've got this."
"Just go!" Livvy grabbed a booze bottle from the floor and said, "Don't worry…I've got this."
The guard said, "Hey, you there!"
Livvy waited until she felt a person right behind her before she whirled around, a battle cry on her lips and slammed the bottle on their head. She then froze, her eyes widening. Not only did the bottle not break, the person she assaulted did not drop to the ground, out cold.
And to make matters worse, the man she had assaulted wasn't even a guard. The man merely gripped his head in pain before shaking it off. He rose to his tall height, like a giant towering over the Red Hood by nearly a foot.
Blowing the strand of hair that hung down in her face, Olivia shot Ciana a smile that was strained. "I don't have this," she whispered, a nervous chuckle bubbling up her throat.
"Duck!" Ciana cried.
Olivia obeyed without hesitation. The man punched the wall not her, and she rushed away from his reach before he could recover. She grabbed her bag from her seat, slinging it over her shoulder before she grabbed Ciana by the hand, tugging her away from the enraged man. "Plan…plan…" the Red Hood whispered, as if one would just fall out of the sky. She bumped into a nearby table, and her hand ended up in someone's food.
"Watch it!" The food's owner snapped.
A light bulb went off in her mind, and she shoved her hand into the bowl. "Sorry," she said, giving the table's occupants a flash of her pearly whites. It didn't stop the group from throwing a fit.
"What are you doing?" Ciana asked, eyes bugling out of her skull.
Livvy however did not heed and shoved her hand into the bowl. "What are you doing?" Ciana hissed.
"Being creative!" She said, launching the thick stew in her hand at the enraged man's face. The man stumbled back, shocked, and knocked into a nearby table. It was a like domino effect, the chaos just spread out through the occupants in the tavern. Food went flying as well as a few punches, and the guards quickly tried to contain it. Olivia led Ciana through the chaos in an effort to escape. When her hand fell on the door, it was wrenched open and the Red Hood groaned, "Ah, hell, not you again!"
"You! É figlio di una cagna," the Captain, this time clothed, charged and Livvy noted with amusement that he was limping. "You defiled my wife!" He pulled out his knife.
"To be fair," Livvy held up her hands in mock surrender and figured she was already in a boat load of trouble so why not go for the gold, "she did throw herself at me, quite eagerly as you well remember—"
"RAAWH!" The bellow left the man, and he raised his blade to strike her, but before he could even bring it down, she kneed him right where the sun didn't shine. He made a noise, something like a scream and choking sound. The Red Hood glanced down at the Captain who was on his knees, his face blanched of all color and his eyes glaring daggers up at the thief. "Stupid and predictable is no way to live life," she told the Captain, with a patronizing tone.
"Red Hood!" Ciana screamed, and Livvy found herself being hauled off the ground then thrown into the air before landing onto a table, knocking it over. She managed to stumble to her feet and she turned facing the man she accidentally knock on the head with the bottle.
"I don't suppose sorry would mean anything to you?" Livvy asked, hopefully. The man snapped something in a language she didn't understand and she said, "I don't speech French."
"Je vais briser tous les os de votre corps," the man snapped getting closer, shoving people out of his way.
"This is going to suck." Livvy raised her fists, prepared to not go down with a fight. It was brutal fist fight. Her knuckles stung with each punch she landed on his face, or sides. His fists made her ribcage ache and feel like it shattered with one harsh punch to the gut. She was outmatched in strength here, and really no good way out with all the people fighting around her.
The man was about to charge her when a bottle shattered over his head, and he stood there, looking absolutely bewildered before dropping to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Behind him with a broken bottle in hand, stood Ciana who looked very proud and smug. "Not that's how you bust a bottle over someone's head."
"You must teach me your ways, maestro," Livvy grinned, visibly relieved.
Ciana smirked, but before she could reply, a tiny man sailed through the air between them, landing on the wooden floor hard.
"Let's go," the courtesan pointed towards the door.
"Right behind ya."
With a horse, the two left the tiny town of Marcialla behind him them with haste. The traces of light had disappeared completely out of the sky, leaving only the stars and moon. The soft chirps of crickets' melody surrounded them, and even the hoot of an owl could be heard in the quiet of the night.
"I had been looking forward to sleep," Ciana complained, poking Olivia in the spine with her bony finger. The horse trotted along, happily content after the apple Olivia had fed it. "And now because of you we got kicked out of the village."
"We left. They didn't get a chance to kick us out. Besides, how was I to know that woman's husband would turn out to be a Captain? And a bar fight was better than being strung up and executed by guards or worse," Olivia reasoned, trying to find the silver lining in the mess that she had made. "It wasn't a total loss. We got a horse, after all."
"And you got a busted up and battered, too," Ciana added, dryly.
Said busted lips and cheek throbbed, and Livvy had yet to rid of the copper tasted in her mouth. Not mention she was pretty sure she bruised her ribs when she slammed into that table, and from the French guy's fists. It didn't dampen the grin that stretched across her features. "I think a busted up a little compared to the fact that asshole will be singing soprano for the rest of his life means, I win!"
Ciana rolled her eyes, looking upward for some divine answers. None came. "Having the horse does mean we won't have to walk all the way to Firenze," the courtesan said, and then frowned. "Where are we going to stop to sleep?"
Olivia shifted in the saddle. "We aren't."
"Why not?"
"I barely got up on this horse. I don't want to break my neck getting down without help." Livvy then added, "And I may have…stolen it rather than got it so even if we were to stop somewhere we could stay put for long. I'd rather not risk a patrol coming across us. With the mess I made, something tells me the guards aren't too happy with the Red Hood right now."
"Ugh…" Ciana made a disgusted noise.
The night drew onward. There was a brief stop by the stream, along the horse a moment's rest. It took a bit of coaxing from Ciana, but she did actually get down off the horse without breaking her neck. Ciana had curled up by a rock, sleeping for a few moments while the horse grazed. Olivia ran her hand across the stead's neck, gently and the horse leaned into the touch. "I always wanted a pony, even asked Santa Claus for one when I was five. It's cliché, I know, but my life was a bit of a cliché in the beginning," she confided to the horse whom she named Thor in her head. His long golden mane was beautiful, and he was far too stout and strong to be a farm animal. "Happy parents, the white picket fence, it was something right out of a 90s family comedy."
Thor neighed, nipping at her fingers where she held an apple. She chuckled lightly, and unfurled her hand to allow him to eat the fruit. "And then it wasn't perfect. Everything changed in the blink of eye. The house wasn't a home anymore, and the people inside were no longer family, but strangers," she whispered out, sadly. "Sometimes, it doesn't feel like it was mine. It feels like it was someone else's life, or a story that I heard. Then other times the memories come back, sharp and vivid. No way to escape them, so I do stupid stuff. Jump head first without looking, desperate for any feeling or chaos that will replace the one inside of my head." The horse head butted her hand, as if chiding her. "I know, I know. It's not a great coping mechanism, but it's the only way I know."
Olivia bit her lower lip, looking out across the landscape. She was caught between two forces inside of her. The past that she had buried that seemed to be dug up more and more with every passing day, and the path that lay in front of her. The only path that she could see for herself given this new world that she was now a part of, and she knew that being in Florence would be a step forward that she wouldn't be able to take back. Livvy only hoped that it was the right thing to do.
In the end, that's what anyone ever had.
Hope.
Destiny was a tapestry eons in the making, a well thought out a meticulous design started when the world and its people were new. Forces beyond the humankind's ken took the strings out of their hands, and played with humanity like puppets to forge a better world. A brighter world where their previous one had not survived; every movement, every moment, every choice and piece of the game of destine had been plotted.
It was of divine design.
And now, a slip of a girl who was barely more than a child created waves that shook the fabric of this design. Each choice she made was like a frayed string, she kept pulling and pulling, unraveling the tapestry. It would fall apart, and fate would fall into mankind's hands. It must not be allowed. The Exiled could not be allowed to continue its plan. Destiny must prevail, the stars must stay aligned, and no child should have the power to rewrite the world with her selfish desires.
The Exiled would have to be destroyed. And the plan to rid this world of such nuisance was already in motion.
Dawn's splendor broke across the green tree tops and covered the plains in beams of golden light. The sky was blue with only a small crop of clouds in sight, and mercifully no guards had followed them. Olivia counted her blessings, and passed Ciana a pear when the courtesan awoke from her slumber. They had set out after two hours of rest, and Ciana had fallen back asleep, using Olivia's shoulder as a pillow.
"Grazie," the courtesan murmured, before biting into the fruit. "It occurs to me that you were quite prepared to leave San Gimignano. I know that it was the retaliation you feared from Salmoni's death that made you ultimately leave, but something tells me that you had been planning it for awhile."
"That's a fair assessment."
"What is so important about Firenze?" Ciana asked.
"A lot of things really. I've always dreamed of going there, even as a child. I was enthralled with maps and books on distant places. Italy was a place that captured my heart and my imagination. Firenze was one of the cities that I had marked down and swore I would always travel to," Olivia answered, honestly. They passed by farms and people who toiled in the fields to bring along the harvest. "I never dreams that I would actually have that come true. I also have business in Florence, so travelling there is like killing two birds with one stone."
"But where will you go? Where will you stay?" Ciana felt compelled to question. "I intend to head to Madame Paola's bordello and seek employment there. I have heard that she is a good and fair woman who treats those in her employment well. But you…do you have a destination in mind?"
"Paola is a good woman, so you won't suffer in her house." Olivia frowned, delicately. She had many options to look through. She would find an inn, and stay there for as long coin allowed before she devised a plan for a more permanent residency. "I don't know. I will figure it out as I go." I'm good at that, she thought with a shrug. Shouts from down the road cause their horse to buck and shift on its hooves nervously. "What was that?"
"I…I think someone is being attacked," Ciana looked over Olivia's shoulder, narrowing her eyes to look at the carriage that looked so small in the distance.
Grey eyes narrowed at the carriage, and knowing that she couldn't in good conscious ignore a person in need, she leapt down from the horse. Her legs buckled slightly in pain when her feet hit the ground, but she steadied herself. She passed her possessions to Ciana, who strapped them to the saddle. "Ride ahead. I will met you at Paola's," she promised.
"What about you?" Ciana looked worried.
"I'll be fine," Livvy replied, frowning. "Cut through the woods, don't let them see you. And if they do, you don't stop riding until you get to the gates and guards will be there to help."
The courtesan appeared torn, but finally did as she was told. Olivia turned and sprinted towards the carriage. Her grey eyes assessed the situation in a split second; There were three men, dressed in ratty and torn clothing with cloths covering half of their faces. Obviously bandits, that were equipped with old knives. Culinary knives, and not ones made for battle. Either foolish or desperate, perhaps both. Two of the bandits forced one of their captives to the ground, and started to beat him in order to make their second captive compile with whatever demands they had.
"Hey, asshole!" Olivia shouted.
The third bandit whirled around and Livvy punched him. It was like out of those old westerns where the startled man literally spun in a circle after getting punched. What you didn't see was the hero shaking their hand wildly because it hurt! Her knuckles smarted with agony, the fragile bones in her hand gave a loud and unpleasant pop when her fist contacted with the man's face. She should probably invest in some brass knuckles, or something similar. A hiss passed through clenched teeth when the other two turned to see what happened to their fallen friend.
"Hello?" She offered, wiggling her stinging fingers.
And all hell broke loose.
The other two bandits charged her, blades swinging wildly as they spat angry curses at her. She jumped back from the blade that would have sliced her gut open, and grabbed his wrist. She placed her fingers just so, and twisted sharply. His wrist gave a loud, disgusting pop. His bones frail by obvious lack of nourishment, confirming her suspicion that these were desperate men and while that made her feel guilty, it didn't stop her from fighting back. With his knife dropped to the ground, she grabbed him by the back of his shirt and slammed his face right into the side of the carriage. He let out a shout of pain and crumbled to the ground, holding his face. Out of the corner of her eyes, she caught movement and pulled back. She gasped, as a blade nicked her neck.
Her hand reached up to her neck in shock. Luckily it hadn't been deep, but it had been enough to distract her. The man went to stab and she jumped throwing her hands up in defense. The blade slide straight through the palm of her hand, and the thousand—if not more—nerve endings in her hand sent a jolt of lava hot panic through her system. She wretched her hand off the blade, likely making it worse. Curling her good hand into a fist, she punch the man square in the nose. He cried out, dropping his knife to ground to hold his nose. Livvy then brought her knee straight into his stomach and he fell to the ground. She stepped forward, bringing her heel down with a loud crunch and the man stopped moving.
Olivia looked for the other two bandits, to make sure they hadn't gotten to their feet and would attack her while she had her back turned. Instead, she found the two limping away as fast as they could. Livvy watched him for a long moment, until she was satisfied that he was really gone before turning to the man who was on the ground. "Are you alright, sir?" She asked, holding out her hand to him.
"Si, si. Thank you," the man took her hand, and she helped off the ground. As soon as he stood on his own two feet, he brushed the dust off of his clothing before raising his gaze to her. Olivia was taken aback by his crystal clear blue eyes, for she had never seen such clear and intelligent eyes. There were intense and bright, like he could see into the world deeper than others. He was a youthful looking man perhaps in his mid-twenties, if she were to take a guess. He had a long prominent nose, paired with a boyish smile and chiseled cheekbones. He had light brown hair with strands of gold that hung loosely, and stopped just above his shoulders. Along his angled jawline was a big of scruff, but not quite just a beard. He had charcoal and paint smudges along the tips of his fingers, so she assumed that he was a painter.
"And you, sir?" Olivia looked to the painter's companion.
"Si, I am well. Shaken, but better now with those bandits gone."
Olivia nodded, and then inspected her hand. A twinge of pain pulsed through it, and it burned like fire when she wiggled her fingers. The cut had been clean through, with no broken bones. She, however, didn't know if any damage had been done to the nerves. Most likely, and it was bleeding rather nastily. "I am glad that I could help. Is all of Italy so keyed up, or does something resembling peace exist somewhere in these lands?"
"Keyed up?" The painter asked, his head tilting to the side.
"Chaotic. Hectic," Olivia explained, with a half smile.
"Tis a most strange way you have of speaking," the artist said with a small smile before holding out his hand. "Leonard Da Vinci, and this is my companion, Angiolo. We thank you for your help, Madonna."
Her entire world froze at his introduction.
Leonardo da Vinci.
It was no secret she had a love affair for all things Italy, and the Renaissance era which had been the height of knowledge and growth, had made Italy the shining example that the rest of the world looked to during that time period. It heralded in painters, scholars and so much more. It was one of the reasons she fell so in love with the world that Ezio's story was set in, and she had been a great admirer of the proclaimed "Renaissance Man" long before she ever played the Assassin Creed games. He had been brilliant, not only creating his own designs but built upon the foundation of older inventors, enhancing and improving upon the foundation laid by those who came before him. His ideals and morals were decades, if not more ahead of his time and she regarded him as one of the greatest people to ever have lived. Stormy eyes zoomed in on the man's face with a shocking intensity. "You're…you're Leonardo Da Vinci…"
"Yes," Leonardo blinked.
A slow smile blossomed on her face, eyes twinkling in a way that Albus Dumbledore would have envied. "You're Leonardo Da Vinci."
"I'm sure that hasn't changed from a few minutes ago," Angiolo pointed out, softly watching the woman bounce up and down on her heels clearly ecstatic over meeting the painter.
"You're the Leonardo Da Vinci! Man, you are awesome!" She announced loudly.
Leonardo blushed under the strangely worded compliment. He rubbed the back of his neck in a sheepish gesture and he said, with a light smile, "Thank you, signora, for your praise, but I'm not sure I deserve."
"Oh, yes, you do," Livvy assured, with a bright grin. How many people could say they've been to the past and meet Leonardo Freakin' Da Vinci? "I'm…" She started, holding out her hand.
"The Red Hood," Leonardo nodded. "I heard all kinds of stories about you though none of them said you were a woman."
Olivia paused, a knot of worry trembled in her heart. She abandoned the handshake in order to adjust her hood, and conceal her features better. She wasn't surprised that of all people, he would see through her charade. The man was a certified genius, after all. "Uh…I'd appreciate it if you kept that to yourself."
"Of course, of course," the artist nodded, not at all bothered by the request. If anything, he had a knowing look in his eyes as if he understood why she would want this to be kept secret. "The least we could do since you saved our lives."
"Thank you," she sighed, relived. Though she had just met him, she knew that Leonardo wouldn't betray her trust and the inventor would not have chosen an assistant that would betray his. Perhaps it was easy to give him her loyalty. He had earned it when she lived through Ezio's story, and admittedly her hero worship of him probably played a great factor as well. But there was also this feeling in her heart, an instant realization that this man would be one of her closest friends. She didn't know why or how this feeling came over her, it just did. "May I escort you to your destination? Just in case," she sent a look over her shoulder, warily.
"Thank you, signora. That would be much appreciated," Angiolo answered, helping Leonardo onto the carriage. He offered a hand to Livvy, but she said she would walk along side. She tore a piece of her tunic off, and wrapped around her wounded hand.
"Where you are headed if you don't mind my asking?" Livvy asked, politely making conversation as she secured the cloths with a tight knot. Her mother would be proud of her manners. Her father would admonish her for being so trusting.
"Florence," Leonardo replied.
"I make for there as well," Livvy grinned.
"You look quite excited. Your first time in Florence?" The painter inquired.
"Yes. I hadn't planned on coming to Italy." Understatement of the freaking century. "But I have found that it was a journey well worth it," Livvy admitted, feeling there was no harm in the information. She wiggled her toes in her boots, her feet were starting to cramp. She needed shoes that were actually tailored to fit, and not two sizes too big.
"Why come to Italy?" Leonardo asked, curiously.
"Because there is something magical about it, isn't there?" Olivia answered, and yet didn't at the same time. "The people, the places, it holds this fire and passion within it. An eternal flame that beats onward no matter how many times it had nearly been stomped out, and I'm glad that I ended up here. It was always my dream, and I honestly don't think if…certain circumstances hadn't allowed it, that I would be here at all."
Leonardo looked at her, sympathetically. "That's sad."
"How so?" She turned her confused eyes on the artist.
"It is always sad when dreams never measure up."
Livvy pondered this. "Perhaps it's the dreamer's fault."
Leonardo nodded. "Indeed. Sometimes fear can quell even the most spirited of dreamers. Even myself, at times, am quelled by that fear."
There was a long moment of silence. "I'm sorry," Livvy suddenly apologized on a laugh. "I've made this too somber. My mind wonders sometimes."
"Only those whose mind wonders can understand the profound meanings of life," Leonardo told her, with a grin.
"Who said that?"
"Me," the artist laughed.
Olivia did, too. His personality was infectious, and she swore to do what it took to endear herself to this man. He would be a friend well worth having, and she had seldom few friends as it was. Gaspare and Ciana were the only two people in all of Italy she had bonded with. There was Federico, too, but they hadn't exactly become what she called friends yet. She hoped that the day came she could call the eldest son a full fledge friend, but only time would tell. "Thank you," she smiled, beautifully at him. "It has been a long time since I've had someone, albeit someone I just met, to talk to."
"It's no problem. I can't image that your…activities leaves time for friends," Leonardo murmured, gently.
"No, it doesn't. I have a few, but…" Olivia trailed off. It was startling how easily she opened up to Leonardo whereas she kept so much back from Ciana and Gaspare. She knew that when she built a friendship with Federico that he, too, would stay in the dark about certain things. Yet with Leonardo, Olivia felt the compulsion to tell him everything with no lie in sight. Perhaps, it was because she felt like she had known Leonardo for years. He wasn't really a stranger to her, but more of an old friend.
As if sensing her train of thought, the artist stated, "Sometimes it is easier to unburden oneself with a stranger, than someone they know."
But you're not a stranger. Livvy bit her tongue for the comment would have been something she could not easily explained. "I've never thought it that way," she commented, her tone soft and gentle.
"Not many do," Leonardo said, with a chuckle. He tilted his head, observing her with a little frown upon his brow and his lips pursed in thought. "Your accent is very…unique. Where do you hail from, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Ameri…" She cut off, abruptly. Her cheeks went hot with mortification, and she looked away from the inventor as she tried to compose herself after such a slip up. The word "America" would mean nothing to him, but if he were to go searching for such a land, Olivia didn't want to think what possible repercussion it could have. She didn't know the intricacies of time travel, but she knew enough to know that even the smallest variation could have a big impact. "It's very far away, and not well known. I doubt you've heard of it."
"Can't say I have," Leonardo mused. "What is it like, if I may ask?"
Olivia knew that avoiding the subject would just seem more suspicious, so she chose her words with great care. She had to come up with an answer that was vague, but that would satisfy the man's curiosity. He honestly reminded her a bit of a kitten, each new discovery or bit of knowledge dangling in front of him like a string of yarn. "It is a lot different than here, and yet in many ways the same. I guess the biggest different is the freedom and choices. Where I come from, everyone is to be treated equally, no one is more important than the other. Well, that is the way it is supposed to be, but it is not always so. Ignorance and hate make monsters out of humans, who'd rather focus on the differences as if they should divide us when those differences are beautiful, and should bind people closer together than ever. Until that kind of hatred cease to exist, I don't think true understanding and peace will ever be found."
"Such darkness has plagued humankind since the dawn of time. It is a battle that all must fight within themselves, feeding the hatred or holding tight to the good. In the end, people have to choose which side of them wins," Leonardo commented, bowing his head with a sad little smile. "But what you have said of your homeland, Ameri, sounds fascinating despite the obvious drawbacks. I would love to hear more if you are ever of a mind to speak more openly of it."
So he had noticed her hesitance, and bless him, he hadn't taken it to heart. Olivia felt her lips pulled into a big smile, part of her wondering what he'd do if she were to tell him the truth of her origins. It'd almost be worth it to see his reaction, but she dismissed the silly thought. "I think I would like that," she replied.
"We are here," Angiolo announced.
Olivia had been so enthralled with her conversation with Leonardo that she hadn't even noticed that they had walked right through the gate and into Firenze. She felt her heart seize in her chest, and her breath caught tight in the back of her throat. Her grey eyes didn't know what to look at first, trying to take everything in all at once. The city was more gorgeous in person, and any picture she had ever seen hadn't even captured half of the beauty of Firenze. The morning sunlight bathed the city in light, leaving no room for shadows or darkness. The buildings were works of art, build with care and attention. Everything was eye-catching from rusty red rooftops, to the tall cathedral, to the people all walking around, greeting each other with smiles and polite conversation. A feeling welled in her chest, as if a piece of her that she didn't realize that she was even missing slid into place.
Leonardo got off the wagon, and stopped at her side. "Does it measure up to your dreams?" The inventor asked, grinning at the unabashed awe on her face.
"It is far more than any dream I could ever conjure," Livvy whispered out, breathlessly. She hesitantly took a step forward as if she were afraid the city would disappear like it always had before in those dreams of hers. Disappeared right before she could make it real, and make it hers; she felt tears swarm her vision, and she didn't care who saw it. This moment was profound, and one she would recall for the rest of her days. It was the first step on a long and obscure path where she did not know the destination, only the wish to protect and help save these characters—these people, who were very real and very dear to her heart.
Olivia took a deep breath, brushing the string that was bound around her finger and took another step forward. And then another followed, each step cementing the fact that there was no turning back. I know that I can do this. I have to do this, she thought, clenching a hand over her heart.
There was no other choice for her.
End of Chapter
Author's Note: I had to leave this chapter on a high note. It's not often that a chapter will end on a good note, and not a harrowing cliff hanger or the like. *Olivia's Fear Of Heights—This chapter overall is a bit filler, but actually does have a crucial moment for Olivia personally. In the last chapter, Olivia's fear of heights and falling was revealed. As we know she will eventually be working alongside of the Assassins, this poses the problem: Can Olivia do a Leap of Faith? Will she need to? While she is not over her phobia, the fact that during the race when she dared to use the pulley system as a way down to the cliffs and she felt more than just fear—but a freedom that she hadn't felt in a long time, is a step in that direction. Is she likely to perform the feat again unless absolutely necessary? No, probably not. And also the race was a nice way to nod to the games.
NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW: Something waits for Livvy in Florence. What could possible want to destroy Livvy and by what means will it get the job done?
References and Languages:
1.) Mi amico (Italian) My friend
2.) Cheers-Television show of the late eighties and early nineties. Theme song 'Everybody Knows My Name'
3.) É figlio di una cagna (Italian) You son of a Bitch
4.) Je vais briser tous les os de votre corps (French) I will break every bone in your body.
FYI, I use Google Translate for most of my translations, so if anything is amiss then let me know. Thank you