Realizations
Chapter 10: Realizations
After watching the sunset, Ezio I had leaped off the rooftop. We silently said good night before going our separate ways. On my way back I couldn't stop questioning it. What Ezio had told me struck a chord in me. There's something bigger going on here. There's something more to assassinating these people.
And now that Ezio mentions it, why exactly am I here? What for? Our encounter did seem like it was, I really don't know how to say it, meant to happen?
I made my way to Luisella's home and walked in. She welcomed me with open arms, but once she saw my solemn expression, she calmed her enthusiasm and only gave me a soft hug and a peck on the cheek. She asked me what was wrong and if Ezio had upset me somehow. In a way he did, but not in the way that would call for her to come running at him with her axe. I was very silent, didn't want to eat, stripped out of my robes, and went to bed.
A little while later, Luisella had joined me and cuddled next to me in an attempt to comfort me.
I hate to say it but not even the beautiful Luisella Cadone could calm my troubled psyche.
~AC~IF~
" He wanted everyone to know the secrets. To set us all free. They used it to drive him insane…" I.M.P.E.A.C.H.E.D.-2012
" He already sees the world for what it truly iZ. Follow his visions to avoid becoming the enemy."
Another night of uneasy sleep.
I woke up with a start. Instead of just one message, Sixteen had given me a series of messages that consisted of statements, video clips, and photos. What especially freaked me out was when he brought up Zeke and the role he's beginning to play and has played in all this.
And he revealed a deep and dark truth.
The existence of Assassins and Templars. The existence of a secret war that has roared on for thousands of years. An alliance split down the middle. At least I have a pretty good idea of whose side I'm on.
Man, I feel like I've been asleep for ages.
I got out of bed, freshened up, and put on my clothes. Looks I got a bit of a wardrobe change.
My blue track pants have changed into black tights, my boots went up just past my knees, my robes were now white with streaks of navy blue, the sleeves were slightly longer and my white shirt still remained underneath. The robes were still longer in the back and shorter in the front. I have a blue and white finger-less glove on my left hand and now possessed twin vambraces on my wrists with a strange insignia on them. Oh and it seems that I have a hood now.
Isn't it strange what could happen overnight?
I walked out of the bedroom and made my way to the kitchen. I asked Luisella a question any able-bodied person would after sleeping what felt like an eternity.
"What day is it?"
"June 24th, 1488" She responded while drying some dishes.
Can someone please tell me when the hell two years had passed?!
"Ezio's birthday to be exact. Is everything alright? You haven't been yourself lately. Your bright blue eyes have lost their luster…" She said in concern.
I don't even know anymore.
Everything we know, everything we've been brought up to believe, it's all wrong…
"Why don't you take a walk around Venezia? Taking a walk has always seemed to clear your head."
If only I were able to recall everything that had happened these past two years. But I'll take her word for it.
"Si, that sounds like a good idea." I responded.
"I'll see when you get back then. I think Ezio is looking for you again. Try to find him."
"Did he come here?"
"Er-um- si." Hmm…
"Very well, I'll be back then."
I left her house and closed the door. I walked until I arrived at the docks. I watched the ocean view, soon getting lost in the scenery and in my thoughts.
I swear this all sounds like something straight out that Illuminati business Zeke has told me about. It's becoming more and more believable each passing second. And it scares the hell out of me.
A high-pitched ringing sounded off in my ear.
What now…?
The ringing didn't last long. It just faded away. Hm. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, I wonder what that was all about…
I turned around to see Ezio standing right behind me.
Does this guy get a kick out of scaring the crap out of me?
"Ah Cole, I thought that was you. Come, I'd like you to meet a good friend of mine." He pulled me over to a man standing patiently within the crowd. He looks familiar…
"Cole, meet my good friend, Leonardo Da Vinci. Leonardo, meet my friend Cole MacGrath." Ezio stepped aside to let us formally greet.
"An honor, truly. Ezio has told me all about you and everything that you have done." Leonardo spoke. He held out his hand to shake.
I took his hand and shook it. "And it's an honor to meet you." I responded.
"Come, Ezio said that it was important that you hear this too. Walk with us."
"The last two Codex pages you gave me Ezio" Leonardo started, "I was studying the copies… I don't know why I never saw it before! But when put together, I realized the markings on the back clarify into words. Here: The Prophet will appear when the second piece is brought to the floating city."
Hmm…
"And there was one more thing written in smaller print that struck me. Fate will be determined by The Man of Light…"
"Prophet…? Only the prophet may open it… Two pieces of Eden." Ezio mused.
"What are you saying? Ezio what is this?"
"We've known each other a long time Leonardo. And Cole, you have shown me that I can trust you. If I cannot trust you two, there is nobody. My uncle spoke of it, long ago. A prophecy hidden in the codex… Leading to an ancient vault that holds something very powerful."
"Grandioso. But if you took these pages from the Barbarigo, then maybe they know about this vault too. Perhaps about The Man of Light as well. That's not good." Leonardo responded.
"Fate will be determined by The Man of Light. The Man of Light… Cole I think that refers to you!" Ezio exclaimed.
"Ezio, why do you say that?" Leonardo questioned.
"It's like I told you Leonardo. Cole show him."
I raised my hand and presented it to Leonardo. I let the electricity dance in my hand.
"Mother of God…" Leonardo said to himself. "What you say is true! Tell me Cole, how did you acquire this ability?"
"I was part of a scientific experiment that took place in Roma but something went very wrong. I was the only one who managed to survive." I responded.
"Wait!" Ezio had stopped walking. "What if that's why they sent the ship to Cyprus!? To find this Piece of Eden… and bring it back to Venezia…"
"When the second piece is brought to the floating city…"
"The Prophet will appear-Only the prophet can open the vault. Fate will be decided by The Man of Light. My God!"
"If you're not careful, you will become their most dangerous weapon. You alone… will be our downfall…" I whispered to myself.
Oh my god.
"When my uncle told me about the Codex, I was too young, too brash to imagine that it was anything but an old man's fantasy. But now I see… The killing of Mocenigo, even the Medici, my father and brothers-it was all part of his plan. To find the Vault! The Spaniard!"
"Rodrigo Borgia." Leonardo responded lowly.
"The boat from Cyprus arrives tomorrow…"
Ezio took a pause and stared at me with determination.
"I plan for both of us to be there to meet it." Ezio said to me. He didn't seem like he was trying to threaten me or intimidate me (at least I didn't think so).
"Good luck my friends." Leonardo walked off.
Ezio looked at me, his expression unreadable.
I sense a serious conversation coming my way.
"Now I know for certain that our meeting was not by chance. But what I am not sure about is if you are truly with us, or playing us." He stated.
"Ezio, I wouldn't have done all of this if this was a rouse to kill or disorient you. If I were with the enemy, how would it make sense to kill my supposed allies? Allies of high importance?"
He pondered my questions for a while.
"Look, I understand your skepticism. I would be quite skeptical as well. I'm still not 100% certain about why am I here, but Ezio I know this much, I am on your side. I swear to you." And I say that from the bottom of my heart and with sincerity. And fear.
He appeared to be content with my response and nodded.
"Molto bene Cole. Now come, we have work to do. But first, I have heard your name a lot all around the city. You are becoming too well-known. Even the guards are on high alert."
I'm used to that feeling.
"We need to fix that; we need to make the city forget your face and name. Go around and take down any wanted posters you see of yourself. Bribe a herald if needed. Like I said before, they will sing a different tune with the right amount of money. If you find an eyewitness spreading lies about you, don't hesitate to hunt him down and kill him. They traded their dignity for coin. Their deaths will not be missed." He instructed.
"I understand."
"Go, I will wait for you here. If you run into trouble, I will be there. And also, don't be afraid to use your hood."
Oh yeah, I have a hood now.
I ran off to do this as quickly as possible. I was anxious to see the rest of this play out. When I turned around I saw Ezio sitting on a bench with his head down and fingers interlaced.
Probably deep in thought again.
I don't blame him.
I put on my hood and continued walking on deeper into the city. The guards noticed my presence and whispered to themselves, looking at me intently. But I remained calm and as I walked away from them, they didn't pay any more attention to me and returned to their own gossip.
I managed to remove three wanted posters of me, one of Ezio, and bribed a herald. But my name was still being spread around town somehow.
"This man has the power of lightning! He does not hesitate to release God's fury upon innocent citizens. And to make matters worse, he is collaborating with the Assassin! Who knows what they are planning!" A male voice spoke up.
I turned to see a man with a ridiculous get up speaking to a group of people. The group of people appeared skeptical but he didn't let up. "I've seen it for myself! He wields the power of lightning in his fingertips! He struck down three children just the other day!"
Okay that's enough.
I quietly made my way behind him. I tapped him on his shoulder.
"Yeah? And what do you want stronzo…" He said while turning around. Once he saw me his face paled and let out the most feminine squeak I've ever heard coming from a man.
"Care to repeat that?" I menacingly asked.
He said nothing and ran off. Oh no you don't.
I turned to my side and realized that I had a whip. Well… um I guess I'll question this later.
I pulled out my… metal whip and launched it at the retreating figure. Luckily he didn't get too far. When the whip had wrapped around his neck (somehow), I pulled him to the ground. He grabbed at the whip, struggling to break free of its iron grip.
I discreetly sent a stream of electricity through the whip. The man convulsed violently before lying back dead. I walked up to him and knelt next to him. I removed the whip from his neck then reached up and closed his eyes.
"Grazie for that. That fool has spewed all kinds of annoying bullshit for too long. It's about time someone shut him up." One person in the group spoke.
Well that went better than I thought.
"Nessun problema. Enjoy your day." I responded with a smile. I began to walk away.
"Keep up the good work." He said softly.
I turned back at him and he winked at me.
I'm going to try to push aside the fact that man looked strangely like Zeke.
*"He wanted everyone to know the secrets. To set us all free. They used it to drive him insane…" I.M.P.E.A.C.H.E.D.-2012
*"He already sees the world for what it truly is. Follow his visions to avoid becoming the enemy."
What do you think these messages mean? =D
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