A/N: I apologize for the massive delay in chapters! Please forgive me! I had serious writer's block, and I was following the Protests in Iran.
Ch 11.
Another dream. It was completely dark again. I heard the same voices as before. The man sounded angry and rushed.
"Lucy, is this it? The interfacing..."
"Subject twenty... her signs are acting..." Lucy sounded like she was trying to be patient with the man.
"What the hell do you mean?" I heard electronic whirrs and clicks again.
"The interfacing... too well....She might be...issues with the bleeding effect." Several beeps and clicks interrupted the conversation.
"...Need to keep her and subject seventeen separated...all costs...Lucy."
"I know that, Warren!" She snapped at the man.
"Don't you take...tone with me..." Warren growled. "It is imperative...piece of Eden..." his voice cut out. Damn it, what is he saying? I tried to yell out at them, and break free.
"Shit! She's active!" Warren exclaimed. "We need...keep her down. Only let them interface with... Alpha and Beta Animus! … No funny business!" I heard his footsteps as he stormed out of where ever they were.
A few minutes later, I heard Lucy again. "Don't worry, Alyssa. I'll get you out, soon." She whispered.
"Blee....ding....Ef...fct..." I managed to mutter.
"Oh, God. Alyssa. I'll tell you...out of Beta Animus." She sounded panicked. "I won't let them do anything else with you. But just for now, stay with Desmond in there."
"Des...mon...d... Ezio?" I sleepily asked.
"Yes. Try to stay with him as long...can."
"Can't...see..." I muttered.
And the realization hit me. This wasn't a dream. The animus...it's real? I am...what did they call it...interfacing...with Desmond? Why?
"I'm pu...back inside, Alyssa. Please, tru..me. This...be over soon."
I woke with a scream, apparently scaring the servants in my room, who had been watching me as I slept. Ezio must have been nearby, because he came running into the room.
"Alessandra! Are you all right?" He came to the bedside and took my hand.
"I'm fine, I think. Just a nightmare." I turned red, after looking at him.
"It must have been bad, to make you scream like that." He wore a look of concern.
"Yes, but it doesn't matter. I am awake, and I have to say, seeing you when I first wake up is a nice sight." I smiled. Ezio's face turned red. "Oh, I almost forgot to thank you for the nightgown."
"Oh, think nothing of it. I hope you like it."
"I do, thank you very much."
"How is your knee?" Ezio motioned to where my leg was, under the covers.
"I don't know. I don't feel it hurting or anything."
Honestly, I had nearly forgotten that I had injured myself trying to escape that Templar. I wiggled my way to the edge of the bed, and let my legs fall over the edge. I pulled up my nightgown to look at my knee. The cuts had scabbed over, but my whole knee was black and blue.
"Are you sure that it doesn't hurt?" Ezio asked.
"If you're implying that I'm fragile, you're sorely mistaken." I giggled. "Better watch out Ezio, I fight back."
"Should I take that as a challenge?" He winked playfully.
I laughed. "Possibly." I stood up and winced a little.
"It hurts?" Ezio asked again.
"Nothing a little water won't fix." I said. Ezio thought for a moment, then called the servants to him.
"Please get me some hot water." The servants smiled and nodded, and walked out of the room.
"I'm sorry for troubling you, Ezio." I frowned slightly.
"Stop apologizing, my rose." He smiled. "You bring me happiness and excitement. I think that is wonderful."
"And here I was, thinking I was nothing but trouble." I laughed a little, and poked his side. I saw him jump slightly, and I grinned. "Oh, you're ticklish!" I exclaimed.
"Am not!"
"Uh huh, right!" I lunged towards Ezio, and my hands met his sides. I wiggled my fingers around his sides, tickling as hard as I could. His laughter was so loud, I thought I could hear it echo down the hallway.
"Oh! Hahaha! Stop that! Ahahaha!" He was nearly doubled over from laughing so hard.
"See, I'm nothing but trouble, all right!" I laughed, and let up on the tickling.
"Ah, see, there! You left your guard down!" Ezio laughed, and lunged back at me in retaliation. I jumped back in defense, but found only the edge of the bed behind me.
"Aah!" I gasped, as the back of my knee met the bed. It felt as though time slowed, as my knee buckled, and gravity took over. I tried to instinctively grab something to stop my falling, but unfortunately, the only thing I was able to grab was Ezio's sleeve. I fell onto the bed with an "oof," and when I blinked, I realized what I had done. I looked up and found myself face to face with Ezio, who I had accidentally dragged down with me. His face had changed from mischievous to confused, and was still slightly out of breath from my previous 'attack'. My eyes widened when I actually comprehended the situation. Oh God, he's landed on me...My face turned an extremely bright shade of red. It took a few seconds for Ezio to grasp what had happened as well. His face lit up fast, and he moved to the right, and I moved to the left.
"Oh God...I'm sorry!" we said at the same time. Our faces burned bright, and our mouths were silent for the several minutes we sat there. Luckily, one of the servants arrived with the bowl of hot water, and it felt as though a heavy weight was lifted from both of us. Ezio thanked the servant, and took the bowl.
"It's my fault, I was being childish again." I frowned, and looked down.
"There you go, apologizing again. It is I who should apologize." His face was still red.
"But, I started it."
"It was an accident, thats all. I thought you'd have better balance." He came closer with the water and chuckled.
"I could say the same for you, mister acrobat." I stuck my tongue out at Ezio. "Better watch out with that water then."
"Oh! My balance is perfectly fine. You just caught me unawares!" He gave a cheesy grin.
"Oh, really. Are you suspecting I did that on purpose?" I laughed. All of a sudden, I felt the top of my head getting wet. "What?" I asked, confused. I didn't realize that he had soaked a rag in the water, and was dripping it on my head. "Ah! Do I smell?" I laughed again. And then, splat, the rag had fallen on top of my head, the edges dripping onto my shoulders. "Awwww." I said, grabbing the soaked rag from my head, and lobbing it towards Ezio, who caught it with ease.
"Lets get your injury cleaned up again, and I will take you to eat." His face still looked playful, but his eyes had turned serious. "I believe we have a few things to discuss, like I had promised last night." Ezio quickly cleaned the cuts, and left the room with the bowl of water. Wow, he gets serious pretty fast, I thought, as I dressed, and headed out the door of the room.
Ezio led me through the house to a dining room, and I was struck by its beauty. a thick carpet with a rich pattern underfoot, wood paneled walls, adorned with beautiful oil paintings of Ezio's relatives, all illuminated by the two small chandeliers that hung over the dining table, like twin suns. He motioned me towards a seat, and I sat. He gently pushed the chair in, and I blinked a few times, not used to being treated so nicely. "Thanks," I said softly.
We ate in silence, both of us afraid to speak much, especially about what had happened earlier that morning. As I finished my food, I looked at Ezio. "Oh! You said you were going to explain who that man was. The one I kicked in the face...I saw something on him, a small red cross."
"I suspected as much. Did you learn any history when you were younger?" He asked, and looked directly at me. I felt his deep brown eyes drill into me with intensity.
"Yes. If I remember right, the red cross was used by the Knights Templar. But, I thought they were chased out of the holy land, and were all killed?" I looked right at Ezio, trying to not flinch from his powerful gaze.
"That is what they wanted everyone to believe. Unfortunately, it isn't true." His face had hardened, his eyes lowered to his empty plate.
"Unfortunately?" I asked.
"Mmhm. It's a long tale, Alessandra. Maybe once...I'll tell you." He sighed, and looked saddened.
I blinked. Did...did I just miss part of what he said? I wondered.
"Did this...have anything to do with...your family?" I reached over to grasp his hand.
"A little." Ezio shut his eyes.
"I'm sorry to bring it up, Ezio." I frowned, and gripped his hand tightly.
"No matter. In a few days, I will take you to see my friend Leonardo. If anything, this will help me focus, and clear my mind." He tried to give me a smile, but I could see the pain in his eyes. "I have asked the tailor, who made that dress, to make you a few others, so that you won't have to wear the same one over and over again." My jaw dropped.
"You shouldn't have." I blushed.
"No, you deserve the best, Alessandra. Clothing that compliments you, and hopefully, a companion that does the same."
I smiled, and continued to hold his hand, completely speechless. It took a few moments to find the words I was looking for.
"You're very wonderful, Ezio. You're caring, gentle, kind, but also very strong. Not just physically, but your spirit is very strong as well. I'd never leave this for anything." Ezio smiled, and I saw a faint trace of a blush forming on his face. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, Ezio." I smiled back, and looked into his eyes again. This man had so many strong emotions swirling inside him, by just looking into his eyes I could see this. As of now, however, he had a look of strong determination, along with slightly pink cheeks. I grinned, and chuckled to myself.
"Please, feel free to explore, if you feel the need to. I will be back in a little while, I need to speak with Leonardo first. Then, we will go. Please be patient with me, my rose." He stood up, bowed, and left the room. I sat alone for several minutes, deep in thought.
"Be safe..." I whispered.
