Two Birds, Two Blades
Chapter 8: Two Birds, Two Blades
Ezio and I were now working on freeing what seemed to be the last batch of Bartolomeo's captured men. While Ezio was taking care of the last guard, I went to open the cage that would set them free. All of them piled out and ran out of the cage. But there was one that stood out. One of them had long black hair and a figure too feminine to be a man. Unless…
"Luisella?" I called out. The figure turned around.
It is her!
"Cole! Oh my, it's good to see you again!" She ran up to me and gave me a tight hug. I hugged back.
"It is good to see you again as well. Are you alright?"
"I am now." She responded. "But it seems that now I will have to pay you back double."
"I am looking forward to it." I responded.
"Are you two heading back to see Bartolomeo?" She asked us.
"Yes, I think this is the last of the captured." Ezio responded
"Alright let's go." She walked on ahead. I began to walk when Ezio pulled me off to the side.
"Don't worry, I won't intrude." He whispered in my ear with a knowing smile.
"You better not." I said back jokingly.
He laughed and went on ahead.
But in all seriousness…
~AC~IF~
"Salute, Ezio, Cole, and Luisella!" Bartolomeo ran up to Luisella and picked her up in a hug.
"Thank goodness you are alright Luisella. If anything happened to you…"
"I know, I know you'd rip apart those responsible and piss on their corpses." She said back in a joking tone as Bartolomeo put her down.
"Forgive me, Luisella is like a daughter to me!" He exclaimed. "Anyway, well done you two! My host is restored to its former glory! Now Silvio will see just how grave a mistake he's made."
"How should we proceed? A direct assault against the L'Arsenale?"
"No. We'd be massacred at the gates. Even with messer Cole. I have something else in mind. Take my men, and my fair lady, and plant them throughout the district. The trouble they cause will force Silvio to dispatch most of his guards."
"And with the L'Arsenale drained of mercenaries, we can move in for the kill." Ezio said.
"Esatto! You'll be virtually unopposed.
"Let's hope he takes the bait."
"Oh don't worry he will."
"Cole, let's go."
"Luisella?" I asked her.
"I will meet you there." She responded with a smile.
As I walked out of the room, I heard Bartolomeo whisper to Luisella.
"So I see you have taken a liking to him, eh?"
"But-how?"
"I see how you look at him, go for him!" I turned and saw Luisella smiling and blushing.
How adorable.
Remember that axe Cole.
~AC~IF~
Ezio and I went around the district, strategically placing our mercenaries in their designated spots. Luisella was taking her place in the final spot with the others.
"Buona fortuna. Just give us the signal to attack and we will be ready. I'll be waiting for you Cole." Luisella spoke.
We headed back to Bartolomeo's study.
"Ah there you two are! Is it done?"
"Yes. All your men, and woman, are in place." Ezio responded.
"Bene, bene. Take this. I assume you know how it works?" Bartolomeo handed a firecracker over to Ezio.
Explosions, big or small, are the best and are always the best to go.
"Find the highest point you can in the district and fire it from there. This signals my men to attack."
"The highest point in the district is just a little south from here. I can lead you there Ezio." I said.
"Molto bene. We will see you on the battlefield Bartolomeo."
"That you will."
"Let us go Ezio." I said.
"After you."
We left Bartolomeo's study to find the high point of the district.
"And here we are."
"Alright, you make your way to the battlefield to meet up with Bartolomeo. When the signal goes off, be ready to go."
"I will be ready. I will see you there." We grabbed each other's forearms in a brief handshake before separating.
I used my lightning tether to quickly make my way to the battlefield. Even with a decrease of mercenaries it was still going to be one hell of a fight. Maybe if I had one of those hidden blades, maybe things could be a little easier. But I don't think you could simply buy one at a store. Maybe…
I took advantage of the extra time I had before Ezio set off the signal. I focused my electricity to my wrists and pictured Ezio's hidden blade in my mind. I tried to manifest it, make it a reality.
After a few moments, I had a prickling feeling near my wrist. When I opened my eyes and lifted my arms, I saw two electric blades protruding out.
This. Is. Awesome.
Now I'm definitely ready to go.
Any moment now…
I turned and looked to the sky, just as Ezio released the signal. The mercenaries took to the streets and attacked the guards. I made my way to the battlefield.
When I arrived, there was one hell of a fight going on. Before I joined in, everything slowed down and my vision darkened. There was one man in robes with a large axe who glowed golden then glowed bright red. That must be Silvio…
I ran in, created my electric blades and took down two guards.
All the guards noticed my presence and immediately attacked.
Ezio came down and took down another two guards and Bartolomeo had also come barreling in.
"Care for some company Cole?"
"The more the merrier." I responded.
The fight went on for a long time. The guards were resilient and strong. Silvio tried to flee but we took pursuit right behind him. Eventually we arrived at the L'Arsenale and the fight began to really pick up.
"Enough of this! We're out of time. Return to me. We must depart." A mysterious man in robes called out. When I turned to face him, he glowed golden then glowed bright red.
Another target?
"Ezio, Cole! Go now! That brute will no doubt lead you straight to his master! My men and I will remain here and keep the guards from giving chase." Bartolomeo instructed.
Ezio and I ran off. We ran into multiple roadblocks of guards. But each roadblock had four guards; two for me and two for Ezio so they did not hinder us as much.
"Hurry! They're going to leave without us!" One of them exclaimed.
"We have a limited amount of time before they get to the boats, we must move quickly." Ezio said.
"I have an idea; two birds, two blades."
Ezio immediately knew where I was going with this.
"I'll take care of Donte Moro and you take care of Silvio Barbarigo." Ezio suggested.
I nodded in agreement. "Let's do this." Ezio held his hand for me to grab. I grabbed his hand and focused on a ledge in the distance. I fired my lightning tether. We pulled ourselves towards the building. Once we landed on top, we quickly sprinted across.
Everything moved in slow motion as I locked onto my target. Ezio and I crossed paths to move in on our designated targets and we leaped off the building. I protruded my electric blade and landed right on top of Silvio, stabbing him in his most vulnerable spot, his neck.
Everything began breaking down and fading out. Ezio and I were standing before a dying Dante and Silvio in a white landscape. I still don't know what this place is. A crossroads?
"What's happened here? Why the boats? I thought you sought the Doge's seat?" Ezio began.
Oh don't tell me we just killed these guys for no reason.
"Just a distraction. We were meant to sail…" Dante began
"Sail where?"
"I'll never tell." Those were his last words before death claimed him
"And you?" I asked.
"Cyprus is their destination. They want… They… want…" Death claimed one more.
Non temete l'oscurità - accettate il suo abbraccio…"
"Requiescat in Pace." Ezio and I said simultaneously.
Then everything faded out and Venice began to rebuild itself.
When I looked at Ezio, he had a grave look on his face. Something doesn't feel right here…
"Well done! Silvio is defeated and the military district is returned to us!" Bartolomeo exclaimed. "Perhaps now Venezia might finally enjoy a bit of pace e tranquilità! We should celebrate this victory!"
"I am glad for you and your men, Bartolomeo. But I cannot join. I fear my work had just taken a rather strange turn…" Ezio spoke.
I have that feeling too. I mean, I don't exactly have a full idea of what we're doing here, but it feels like this is a gateway for something big. Something huge.
"What do you mean?"
"Silvio wasn't looking to replace Marco as Doge. He was about to leave Venezia, in fact. This whole thing was just a distraction."
"Why?"
"That is what I need to find out."
He said that they wanted something. Who are they ? What…
A sharp pain went through my head. A flashing image of a glowing spherical object went of repeatedly and filled my vision. The symbol of what appeared to be a perfectly symmetrical cross began to flash. But that doesn't look like the cross I know…
Flashbacks of me detonating the Ray Sphere and activating the RFI played back to back.
" We tried to undo it. But it was too late. The damage had already been done."
Sixteen?
" They're taking advantage of this… heh… beautiful setup."
" If you're not careful, you will become their most dangerous weapon. You alone… will be our downfall…"
God…
"Cole?" I opened my eyes to meet Luisella's soft caring ones. Concern laced her beautiful face.
"Cole is everything alright?" She asked.
"Just a headache." I responded.
She grabbed my hands and interlaced her fingers with mine.
"Come with me" It was a short walk to a building. She opened the door and pulled me inside.
"I still have to repay you for all the good you've done me." She whispered, almost shyly.
Well I don't want to impose the message that she has to repay me… in the way I think she's going to anyway.
"Luisella-" She didn't let me speak as she grabbed my face and kissed me with renewed vigor, completely contradicting her bashful nature earlier.
After a long embrace, she pushed me and I fell back. I didn't land on the cold hard ground but rather on something soft and warm, most likely a bed. She climbed on top of me and kissed me once more, but a lot gentler.
She began tugging at my robes as she moved down to kiss my neck.
"You know, you don't have to…" She stopped to look up at me, her piercing blue eyes made contact with my soft blue ones. "I do not want to force you to do something that you feel obligated to do." I explained.
She clicked her tongue and exhaled softly before falling to my side with a soft thump. I felt some movement before the whole room was lit up with candle lights.
Well isn't that nice.
She looked at me with a soft smile on her face, her eyes bright. Then her smile turned into a mischievous smirk and her eyes darkened.
Well I know that look. And I don't think she would have done all of this if it didn't mean anything.
We immediately attached ourselves to each other. I responded with much more enthusiasm and she eventually let me take control.
It was certainly an electrifying night.
~*Memory Synched: Sequence 10 Complete*~
Synchronization rate: 32%
I realize that this is the 2nd time where a memory sequence ends with Cole… yeah XD. No more of those I promise that, but that's Assassin's Creed for you! XD
Cole and Ezio make a good team, eh? =D
Please favorite, alert, and review=)
