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.
I want to thank AgoTheTiny, Alex-Kurotani, Aspidon, Bloodrage, Butterscreen, Chester-Grey, Countess Vlad Dracula, DovahkiinSharpe, Dragonaia, Elementi3197, FireRain1999, GlaceNight, Hanane EL Mokkadem, Hawkbelly, Hawklan, Hyuga Nagani, KarstOfProx, Krenaya, Leo's Katanas, Luria, My Ashland, Peter the Otaku, PhantomChajo, Saqin, Scarlet Rosaria, ShinobiTwin05, Soxxy Moxxy Lacks A Lung, The Partner In Cream, Trauerspiel, TurtleFeathers, Union of the snake, UnknownFlux, Xiba, YTaMSPw, Yanderegrl43ver, azunyan3478, bakaprincess85, dragonsire13, irenia, madisongjohnson, miruka67, mrs. leonard mccoy, pretzel-logic, sleepingsnowwhite, sleepyPrincess, the mass halo effect, ramzgurl, Cherries and Bearbees, Trance20666, michellevillalobos12, GreyMemories, Antyto-sama, Master Chief the Champion, anionymm, Rain Nero, Scarlet Silvers, Baleful Gamer, crazyuser, Hugs4Every1, Illusa, Patches9812, Ballad of the Fallen, LeeBikes, ShioriOokami, xXBloodyIllusionXx, EzziBA, UmiNight Angel Neko, yiuyiufung, ShizukaRen-Hime, bibop, Kmanrocks, Shaiya Arai, xanna2011, GreentreeFrog, SurreptitiousFox245, Kira440, MRG101, Alozano14, LoveNivans, yarmantho, GingerPepperNinja, Tyvot, The Name Is Greed, GreenScalesWaggingTails, Puppystomper, Jade Celandine, TheifOfInsanity, Dark-Forest-Clouds, WandererRaen, Terra-Fair, Cursed-Dragon227, Allstars7, IcedFireFrenzy, , Shannyrox101, Akai Uzu, Dark knight4ever, Renrinrin, tung98bill, Scrubletta, tenshi0, MercenaryBunny, snkannie, SaraTheAngelic, AgoTheTiny, CompetitiveFig, Aim1107, PJatO96, RedSkinGirl, Slavaskia, DomJaoII, Skipping on Shadows and tigerfur for the follows all of you are awesome!
And I also want to thank, ramzgurl, A7x215 08-02-2013, AgoTheTiny Aspidon, Azriel Vincettia, Bitja, Electric-Rawr, Foresthunter, Hawkbelly, Hawklan, Kairi-loves-Sushi, KarstOfProx, LadyEvellyn, Leo's Katanas, LittleMissFortune, Reitzel-chan, Saqin, Scarlet Rosaria, Shi No Kitsune, Trauerspiel, UnknownFlux, Yanderegrl43ver, bakaprincess85, dableachenator, dragonsire13, mrs. leonard mccoy, pretzel-logic, sleepingsnowwhite,Electric-Rawr, xXmarciXx, Shi No Kitsune, bakaprincess85, Leo's Katanas, Aspidon, Bitja, Azriel Vincettia, KarstOfProx, UnknownFlux, A7x215, AgoTheTiny, ramzgurl, Alissin, YTaMSPw, Lady Northwind, Trance20666, Chester-Grey, Choco-Latte64, Antyto-sama, girl falcona, Scarlet Silvers, ihearux3, DayDreamNinja, Hugs4Every1, Dragonet-Dialga123. Illusa, SeaGreenSeaGlass, nekotea13, nafara, EzziBA, Kaore Ryu, Kmanrocks, UmiNight Angel Neko, Cho Tamazaki, RubysTheName, The Fox Familiar, ShizukaRen-Hime, Nicky43, Vendiche and Avalon, xanna2011, sleepyPrincess, Kira440, MRG101, Alozano14, LoveNivans, yarmantho, GingerPepperNinja, Tyvot, GreenScalesWaggingTails, Kyouki no kitsune, ArtChild96, DrAnime203, Jade Celandine, Terra-Fair, Cursed-Dragon227, Allstars7, DomJaoII, IcedFireFrenzy, , kitsune light, Akai Uzu, Renrinrin, Scrubletta, tenshi0, MercenaryBunny, snkannie, GamerPhotos, CompetitiveFig, All Alone in the Rain, KuriousKat256, EroSlackerMicha, RubysTheName, PJatO96, Skipping on Shadows, hodhod2011danger and xXmarciXx for the favorites! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
If you have favorite this story and followed it and your name isn't above, just tell me that I missed you and I will correct it.
Thank you for the reviews, DayDreamNinja, MusicArt and MRG101! You guys and gals reviews helped me finish this chapter, thanks.
Got to give the Props to: The game, the novel by Oliver Bowden and the game script. It has really helped me keep up with the storyline and stay true to everything and everyone. Hope you enjoy!
Want to apologize for the late update! I've been working on my other projects (and fan fictions) and going back to edit this one. I decided it's been a while, so here your update! Hope you all enjoy!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
"Madmen Upon Rooftops"
Night had fallen by the time that they reached San Gimignano. The sky was painted pitch black, and blanketed with stars. Livvy heaved a great sigh as she dropped down off of her saddle, and gently stroked the horse's neck. "Shh, shh. You did good girl," she whispered to the horse as she led the mare to the nearby stables. She paid the caretaker his due for both her and Ezio's horses before she made her way back to the Assassin. She stopped at his side, and watched as his eyes scanned the walls of the city warily. "Where do you think we should begin our search?" Olivia asked, calmly. "Finding Maffei will be like finding a needle in a haystack if we go about it blindly."
"Then we shall need some help," Ezio tapped his chin thoughtfully. "My uncle has a band of mercenaries here and they will have no doubt made note of any templars comings and goings. Perhaps we should go seek their aid."
"Sounds like a plan," Livvy smiled slightly. "But we better keep an eye out along the way. I have no doubt that Antonio has guards keeping a watchful eye for us."
"Well, no one said it would be easy," Ezio teased, the pair strode through the gates side by side. The streets were damn near empty, and so quiet.
"It never is," Olivia breathed out. This was probably the most comfortable the two of them had been since the fight they had. She couldn't say she liked having that fight with him. It made a knot of guilt swell up in the back of her throat, and she was half tempted to apologize. However, her pride wouldn't let her. She moved with a fluid grace along side of him. Her hand occasionally brushed against his cape or arm.
Ezio turned his head again to watch her face. Her blue eyes gleamed as they took every detail of everything around them. Her expression was smooth, and impeccably calm. She was so caught up in the search, that he doubted if she was fully aware of what she was doing—if at all. And he doubted, even she, did not see the enormity or significance of it. How she glided by his side matching his movements as it came to her as natural as breathing. He cocked his head to the side thoughtfully, when Olivia abruptly stopped and pinned with a look. He arched an eyebrow innocently. "What is wrong?" He asked.
"What are you doing?" She countered.
"What do you mean what I am doing? We are searching for Maffei, are we not?" Ezio shot back, his eyes flickered back to the path before them.
"That doesn't explain why you were watching me," Livvy said, her lips pursed.
"What? I cannot stop to admire your pretty face," Ezio smirked, and he watched with satisfaction as her cheeks turned pink. Her blue eyes narrowed upon him, making her look vaguely like an angry cat. A cat with claws, he would never allow himself to forget. At least, not any time soon. Those rocks had hurt. "I was just wondering something, mia bella. That is all."
"Wondering what?" Olivia blinked, then a hesitancy crept into her expression. "If it is about the fight earlier…"
"No. No, it is not about that," Ezio shook his head. He longed to forget that as soon as possible, but Olivia was a stubborn woman. He doubted that she would let it go anytime soon. "I was wondering if this what you always wanted to be."
Shock hit her, and for a moment, Olivia was speechless. She stared at Ezio with wide eyes, and her mouth agape. "What…what do you mean?" She struggled to put together a sentence and tilted her head to the side.
"A thief in the night. A pariah whose face is put on wanted posters. To be revered as a hero, and to be feared as a murderer," Ezio drawled out, as he drew himself to his full height and peered down at her with those honeyed eyes.
A torrent of emotions swirled through her, and for a split second she found it so hard to breath. She had never met someone who could look into her and just see her the way Ezio did. Federico came close, but even he didn't see the full picture. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. "Did you?" She asked, softly.
"No…I did not," Ezio admitted.
Livvy smiled ever so slightly, and ducked her head. "Neither did I," she said, honestly. "I didn't think that anything like this would become my life. It is nothing like I imagined."
"Do you regret it?" Ezio asked.
She looked him straight in the eye, and saw her own doubts reflected in his. She reached out, entwining her fingers with his. "Not for one second," she said, and to her shock she found that to be the simple truth. No ands, if, or buts about it.
"Ezio! Ser Ezio!"
Ezio and Olivio released each other hands. They turned to find a man who by his garb was no doubt one of Mario's mercenaries. "Salute Ezio and Red Hood! It is good to see that you have arrived to San Gimignano with such haste. Antonio Maffei and his men have been terrorizing the city since their arrival," the mercenary said, wiping the sweat off of his brow. "Please, I beseech you! Stop them."
"Then our meeting is truly serendipitous," Olivia commented, a wry grin upon her lips. "That is exactly why we are here."
"Yes, it is," Ezio reached out, and placed a hand on the mercenary's shoulder. "Do you know where we can find him?"
"Maffei has sought refuge atop the city's tallest structure - spouting scripture and arrows in equal measure. The man has clearly lost his mind," the mercenary whispered to them. "Making matters worse, he's posted archers all around him. You'd do well to clear them out before approaching."
"Ugh," Livvy grunted in annoyance. "I hate archers."
Ezio's lips twitched upwards, and he nodded at the mercenary, "Grazie for the information. Take your men, and watch the city. Once Maffei is dead there is no telling if his men will flee or take it out on the citizens."
The mercenary nodded. "By your leave," he bowed to both of them.
Ezio inclined his head, then brushed past with Olivia hot at his heels. "Do you think this will be as bloody as Florence?" She asked, quickly.
"I hope not," Ezio grimaced. "But if we let it go on too long that is exactly what it might become."
"Citizens of San Gimignano, heed well my words! You must repent! Repent and seek forgiveness!" Antonio Maffei looked like a small dot on top of the tall tower from the vantage point that Olivia and Ezio had.
Olivia watched, her eyebrow climbing higher and higher with each passing second before she turned towards Ezio. "Does he realize that the only ones that actually can hear him are the guards, right? There are no actual people to preach his 'holiness'," she used air quotes here and arched a brow towards the assassin, "to?"
"I'm not sure," Ezio's brow furrowed. The illness of the minds were not his area of expertise, nor did he even want to ponder the what could be inside the templar's mind. "It appears he's as mad as the mercenary stated."
"Madder than a hatter without tea," Livvy snorted, as she eyed the man warily. Olivia would not she was entirely sound of mind, and there was a big difference between eccentric people to crazy people. And she did not deal well with crazy people.
Ezio opened his mouth to ask her what that exactly meant, then just rolled his eyes exasperation. Sometimes he couldn't help, but notice how strange Olivia truly was. She was unlike anyone else he had ever met, and he didn't understand half of the things she said. With a shake of his head, he turned his golden eyes back on his target.
"For your wicked ways have incurred the wrath of a demon! Summoned by your sins, he now walks our world, cloaked in shadow and darkness!" Antonio shouted as loud as he could from the tower.
"Wow, a demon. That's harsh, they don't even call me that. You've really pissed them off," Livvy commented, as they climbed to the roof. "Good job," she beamed, proudly at him.
"Thanks," Ezio gave a half grin then he held out his arm, and pointed to the other end of the roof where a guard slowly made his way to them. "Go after Antonio. I'll deal with his rabble," Olivia said, pulling her blade free from her scabbard. One would have to be a fool to not her eyes light up at the thought of a challenge.
"Are you sure?" Ezio asked, turning serious eyes on her.
"Yea, I'll be fine," she assured him. "Go." She dashed across the rooftop, and before the guard could get his shout out, he was lying dead. Olivia withdrew her blade with a grunt, and looked up to see Ezio watching her. She gave him a grin, and jaunty bow before she started the long climb up the tower after the archer. Ezio let his eyes linger on her a second longer, because he knew her aversion to heights. He could make out the rigidness of her back as she grappled for footholds, and handholds. His heart jolted when she slipped about a half inch before she corrected herself.
He let out a long sigh, and drew a weary hand across his face. Olivia, always rushing where angels feared to tread. He turned his eyes off the Red Hood and towards the tower that Maffei sought refugee. He cracked his neck before reaching up to find an edge he could grab onto. Methodically and slowly, he inched his way up. Little did Maffei knew death was upon him and all would be over soon.
Olivia held her body pressed against the stone, her fingers cramping from the tight hold she had upon the wall as pain flared through her wounded shoulder. It was burning sensation that stabbed deep to the bone, and a sheen of sweat broke out along her forehead. She had to make this quick. It would be for nothing if her arm gave out, and she either fell or couldn't make her way back down. Her heart beat like a erratic drum inside of her ears, and she waited until the guard's shadow passed over her before she pulled herself over the edge and onto the rooftop. Her blue mind immediately took in the two archers, both unaware of her, but not for long. She rushed forward, taking the first one by surprise. She grunted with the sheer force she put into stabbing him. His eyes winded as he let out a gurgled noise that made Livvy shuddered. She drew back not even attempting to pull her sword out. There was no time by the time an arrow went flying past her head.
Her eyes narrowed, venomously. She ran forward and tackled the second guard to the ground before he could get another arrow notched. She brought a first across his face as he bought his knee straight up into her gut. The wind was knocked out of her and in a split second she found herself pinned on her back, hands around her throat. Dark spots flashed across her vision, and she didn't bother to pull at his hands. She didn't have the leverage to pull him off of her. Hand grasped at her waist for her dagger, fumbling slightly. "You stupid bitch," the guard picked up her head, and slammed it down.
A blistering, mind numbing pain burst through her skull, but she gritted her teeth through it. A dark sense of satisfaction whelmed up inside of her when she pulled her dagger free. With a second thought, she plunged the blade straight into the guard's chest, and watched his face go blanch with shock. The guard groaned, a dribble of blood came out of his mouth and splattered across her face. She grimaced and shoved him off, stumbling to her feet. It took her more than a few moments to gather her breath, and she wiped her cheek with back of her hand as bile shot up to the back of her throat.
She pressed her palm to her forehead, before she walked over to the first guard and retrieved her sword. With a shaky sigh, she looked up to see if she could see Ezio on the tower. She couldn't. This side of the tower was masked in shadows, and she couldn't help the flash of panic that seared through. "Be safe, Ezio," she whispered out, and slowly made her way to the edge of the tower. Her blue eyes looked at the ropes connected from this tower to one below that held archers. She reached out, and grasped the ropes. They were tight, and sturdy and most likely hold her weight. It would save her time from climbing down, and climbing back up the other tower. "Talk about walking a tight rope…" She eyed the ropes warily and looked at the other tower of archers thoughtfully. She swallowed thickly. "Oh, hell. It's not like it's the most dangerous thing I've ever done…" She reached out carefully, and slowly began to inch her way forward careful not to look down.
"And everywhere he treads, DEATH FOLLOWS! Why you ask? Because you have strayed and sacrificed your liberty to that wretch Lorenzo de' Medici," Antonio Maffei shouted at the top of his lungs as he eyed the world down below with a sneer full of derisive. Stupid helpless sheep, he thought the lot of them were. Too blinded by lust and sin. He opened his mouth to shout more when he head applause from behind him, and he turned around. Horror etched onto his face as he saw the phantom in white billowing robes clapping his hands together. At his feet laid Maffei's guards dead and their blood pooled around them in a haunting shade of crimson.
"Quite a show," Ezio stated, a smugness glittering in his eyes as Antonio whirled around. Panic flashed across his face as he saw the man draped in white approach him, his blade glinting under the moonlight. "But I'm afraid your performance is over."
Fear burn through Antonio and he held up his cross, clenching his eyes closed. "By the light of the LORD, be cleansed!" Antonio screamed.
"No grazie!" Ezio sneered at him, stalking forward with all the gait of a predator. Down below in the adjacent, smaller tower Olivia crawled off of the ropes, her feet hitting silently as she watched the guard draw an arrow back ready to fire at Ezio. Not happening, Olivia narrowed her eyes, and tackled the guard without a second thought. The bow and arrow clattered usually to the ground as they two struggled. A white-hot pain jolted up her forearm and she rolled off of the guard with a hiss. His dagger had nicked her, luckily it was far from a fatal. The guard got to his feet and swung his blade, which Livvy jumped back while pulled out her sword.
"I will put you on your knees, sinner!" Antonio spat, tossing his cross aside when it was apparent it was no use against the assassin. His dark beady eyes were filled with rage, and darkness.
"You would enjoy that, wouldn't you?" Ezio sneered, darkly. He flexed his wrist, his blade sliding out with a hiss and he watched with grim satisfaction as Antonio paled.
Olivia ducked across the wildly slung blade, it sailed past her head and she saw her hair flying. "You bastard! I have to cut my hair! Again!" Livvy snarled lunging at the guard, her attacks more ferocious than before.
"Beg forgiveness!" Antonio looked back, backing away from the assassin until his back hit the edge of the tower. He glanced behind him, and blanched at the city below.
"I have no need to!" Ezio's lips curled upward in a snarl, his limbs tensing and he made one last lunge forward.
"Give me strength, O Lord-" Antonio's rant was cut short by Ezio's blade going through his chest. Livvy slashed the last guard across the face before impaling him on the sword. She took a step backwards, and reached up with a shaky hand to touch her bottom lip that quickly swell. She cursed underneath her breath.
"Away with you, demon!" Antonio croaked out, blood dribbling out of his lips.
"Have some respect for death, my friend," Ezio just shook his head knowing there was no way he would get any sensible answers from this clearly deranged man.
"I'll show you respect…" Antonio's eyes rolled back and he last breath escaped him.
"No. I will." Ezio stated, and whispered the prayer, "Che tu possa alfine trovare riposo nel corpo e nella mente. Requiescat in Pace." (May your body and mind at last be still. Rest in peace.) He stared down at Antonio Maffei, and found he could not summon the energy to feel any amount of pity anymore when it came to Templar. With a heavy sigh and shake of his head, Ezio got down from the tower as fast as he could, and when his feet hit the ground below Olivia was immediately at his side.
Her wide grey eyes stared up at him, with more than a little concern. "Nothing useful I take it?" She inquired, seeing the firm frown on his face.
"No. Nothing but his insanity," Ezio shook his head.
"Good thing it's not contagious," she tried to lighten the mood. It had the desired effect, for Ezio let out a bark of laughter. He ran a wary hand down his face as his laughter subsided, and he managed to give her a small smile. "I suppose we should head back to Monterriggionni. I have to send notice to Lorenzo that Antonio Maffeti has been dealt with."
"Then let's get going. I hear the sweet song of my bed calling for me," she told him, with a light grin. Her nightmares. It was something he had been wanting to ask her about and it slipped his mind once again. As they procured a couple of horses from a couple of straggling guards, they headed back towards Monteriggioni. Ezio glanced at her, noted the dark circles under her eyes and the yawns she tried to stifle. What is bothering you, Olivia? His eyes looked troubled. And why won't you tell me?
"You okay?" She caught his expression. "Do we need to stop by a doctor?"
"No," he shook his head, while he hand hooked out capturing her chin in his palm. His thumb brushed her split lip and she let out a tiny noise of distress, flinching back. The handprint around her neck did not escape his notice either, and he had little doubt that Olivia had other injures as well. "But you might."
"It's nothing a cold wet rag would take care of," Livvy shrugged.
"Let a doctor decide that," Ezio stated firmly.
"Ezio-"
"The matter is settled," the assassin said in a tone that meant that he was a wall that couldn't be moved.
Livvy let out a long sigh, before nodding. "Fine," she reluctantly agreed. His hand dropped from her chin, but the warmth was still there caressing her lips like his thumb had. Teasing her softly with promises that would never be fulfilled. Do not think like that, she scolded herself as she fought not to have an outward reaction to him.
"I never did get a chance to ask," Ezio said, a hint of mirth in his voice. "What did you want to be when you grew up? What did you imagine you life would be?"
Olivia wrapped her arms around herself, gently. She looked out at the dimly lit streets and recalled with a fond smile upon her face. "Dancing," she replied, with a slight smile. "I wanted to be a dancer when I grew up. I loved to dance, and just spin and just move. When I danced I see the wind, the movement of it all around me. When I danced I really felt free."
Ezio stared at her, and could hear the wistfulness in her voice. The longing, and passion when she spoke of dancing. "I never saw those things when I dance," Ezio said, his hand reaching up to brush the strands out off Olivia's face. "Perhaps…one day you can show me."
Olivia turned to him. Her blue eyes never left his face, never blinked. They stared at each other for a long moment, before her expression softened and a smile curled her lips. If anyone could ever fall into a pair of eyes, they would be Ezio's. She looked down and drew in a breath, her smile took an a teasing edge. "As long as you don't step on my toes and break them then perhaps I will."
Ezio scoffed. "I will have you know I am an accomplished dancer," he told her, with a haughty sniff. The twitching around his lips was the only give away to his amusement, and he leaned towards her. "When we get back to Mario's, I will prove it," he said, a hint of promise in his deep voice.
Olivia felt her heart stutter in her chest slightly. "And I will show you the wind," she promised, a gentleness in her expression before she caught herself. "We should get going. We will make it back to Monteriggioni before the break of dawn if we are lucky. Might get an hour before Mario makes us train."
"Or we could take our time," Ezio suggested. "And arrive tomorrow evening."
"Mario would make us train twice as hard."
"He would." Ezio gave a put upon sigh. "I suppose it is best not to keep him waiting."
"Yep," Livvy nodded. Just like the moment passed, and she pushed whatever she was feeling aside. Oh, she was about to step into some bad territory if she let thoughts like that come to mind. She had already been half in love with Ezio from playing Assassins Creed, and she knew it would be all too easy to fall the rest of the way. Olivia frowned deeply because she knew that she could not let that happen. She would have to be content with being Ezio's friend, and nothing more. He was meant for someone else, someone that was not her.
Not for her, she reminded her as a bleak feeling overshadow any sense of victory or achievement. She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not see the golden eyes that watched her.
END OF CHAPTER! HOPE YOU ENJOYED!
Rrs are appreciated.
