Escape from Roma
She slammed the buttons on her controller, the enemy fell before him. She was thrilled, he wasn't such a set man anymore, revenge was not all he wanted. As he walked into the Vault she felt her fingers tingle; so she set down he controller as the cut scene started on her TV in front of her. A strange golden woman appeared and turned to the screen; was she talking to her? The Player? Leaning in, a breeze blew past her from her open window causing her screen to move like water. Startled she scooted back for a moment, but curiosity got the better of her. Reaching out as the camera in the game had shifted, her fingers brushed the water like substance. Hands appeared out of the TV grabbing onto her wrist, to shocked to even scream she was dragged into a vortex.
Things like this should be impossible. Things like this shouldn't happen. But they were, and she knew it; she was living it. The colors swam around her in a vortex, only seconds ago was she playing her Xbox. But now she was in what seemed like an endless free fall within a sea of hypnotic colors. Falling endlessly, she wondered if she should just close her eyes, maybe she would hit the bottom and it would be over. But there was a end to this torment, and it was coming up, fast. A man stood there in a oddly familiar cloak, but she didn't have time to think about that for the ground was coming up to meet her at an uncomfortable rate. Letting out a yell she threw up her hands to shield her face from the incoming blow.
"What do you mean? There is no one else here!" Ezio called out to the woman, he was bothered by her, speaking off into the air as if another person would appear by magic. She then turned to him, saying he needed to remain quiet, that yes he was the prophet but no, he was not the one she wanted to speak to. He was enraged. Grinding his teeth he contemplated leaving the vault, just to spite her. When beside him, the wall opened up and a girl fell onto the glowing stone beside him. "What the hell." He muttered gazing at the girl, who sat up, the heels of her hands scratched and bleeding, as where her wrists. The girl took in a stuttering breath of air. "Were am I?" She asked, her eyes glazed over as if she was trying to shake off a lingering fear.
She was confused, more than confused. The man in front of her, he wore a black cloak that covered his face; all except his nose and mouth. That mouth was turned down in confusion at the moment at her presence. Daggers lined his belt, along with a contraption that looked like it also sheathed a deadly weapon. On his left side a long glimmering blade sparkled in the glowing lights that lined both the walls, and the air, of the room she had been dumped in. A quick glance around and the girl determined she definitely was not in Kansas anymore. Her attention back on the man, and the woman who was now smiling softly at her, she asked a standard question for one with such a jumbled mind such as her. "Were am I?"
Reaching out her hand, the holographic woman Minerva smiled softly at the child that now crouched on the floor of her haven. "Child, welcome to your destiny."
Reeling back, the girl scrambled back to the wall. The woman's figure and glowing golden form finally clicked in her brain. It was Minerva, the woman who was within the Vault in Roma, in the game, the one she had been playing moments before, Assassin's Creed. Words escaped her mouth, that would mean, the man was, Ezio Auditori. The, Ezio. Her attention split between the two, her neck seemed like it would break if she looked back at the other person one more time.
Ezio glared at the woman, this child's destiny was here? It looked like she had just been pulled from her home. And what was with the girls outfit? It was strange, a coat like item hung over her shoulders and down to her waist, it was baggy, and Ezio guessed it to be some form of coat. Second was that she was wearing pants, not that it wasn't uncommon, but the fact she wore no shoes and her feet were free of both dirt and calluses gave him notion that she did not leave the house often, or wore shoes when she was out. Her hands also looked soft, untouched by fighting and trouble, though there were small scars that danced on her knuckles, not once you would gain in a fight, but ones you would obtain from a angered cat or some form of animal. Her body, Ezio guessed, must be quite lovely from the way the coat hung around her breasts. But that brought him to the face of the young lady. Though shocked, she had clear blue eyes and chestnut hair that hung just below her shoulders. Her nose was almost royal in the way it was straight, not to large, but not small. Her lips, pink from the youth she must have, were not full, not something a man would want to kiss, they were not thin, though they had cuts were blood was falling down her chin: her jaw bone was sharp, but gave way to a softer more rounder shape along the same chin the blood was running. Ezio cocked his head, as he heard the woman speak to the girl once more.
"Alexandra." Minerva whispered, keeping her hand out in persistence. "Come, come to me."
Alexandra shook her head. "Your not a god." She was here, she was not in her room anymore, and she had something to say. "God is real," She began, the woman, her hand still out, looked at her and listened. "He made you." Alexandra whispered. "He made me." Now Minerva was smiling.
"Child." Speaking in soft tones Minerva stood straight once again. "You are wise." She said no more on the subject but turned to Ezio. "Please prophet, help the child up, she is so frightened from her ordeal to get to you to stand upon her own."
Alexandra stuck out a stubborn chin at Minerva's words. She could stand on her own if she wanted too! Placing her hands on either side of her knees she attempted, but finding that her legs shook to much, she only landed on her rear once again. "Ow." She muttered tears springing in to her eyes. Hastily she whipped them away. Ezio was coming forward, Alexandra blinked, he was even handsome close up! She could see his face now, his brown eyes that reflected her frightened face, his lips, full, sensual, his nose, large, just like she liked them. And that beard. It looked soft and made her want to touch it. Reaching out his hand he didn't smile, but was serious. It made her want to know what his smile would look like.
"Madonna." He said with a slow nod and a extension of his hand. He saw no consequence in helping this child. In fact, he wanted to help her. Her eyes were wide as he came forward, it looked as if she was now seeing him not for the first time but the second. A closer encounter than the once she had had before. A bubble of confusion threatened to appear, but quickly, with a mental dagger, he popped it. Leaving it to question later.
Alexandra reached out her hand and placed it in his. It was very warm, and it closed around her immediately. She stood, still a little shaky, and continued to grasp Ezio's hand in support. She hoped he wouldn't mind. Her mental hammer was going over time trying to control both her accelerated heart rate, and blush that threatened to appear upon her cheeks. She gazed at the woman in front of them, she was about to speak once more.
"Ezio." Minerva spoke not only with her mouth and voice, but with her hands as well.
Ezio glared at her, now she was speaking to him? It was a little late, he was to angry at her to want to deal with her. But her tone made him want to listen. So, even though his mind revolted against the thought of listening to the woman's words for even one more moment, he remained standing as still as a statue. The girls hand still grasped tightly is his.
"Alexandra." Minerva turned to her now. Resting her gaze levelly with the girl's eyes. "You, my child, have a destiny to fulfill here."
Destiny? How can she, a girl who played the game she was now in for fun, have a destiny in Italia? "I don't understand." She muttered, her voice as unsteady as her legs. What life could she have here?
"You will child," Minerva said with a soft smile. "You will." With that, she faded. The room growing dark, leaving both Ezio and Alexandra with to many questions and no more answers than they had had when the entered this room. Alexandra felt faint, releasing Ezio's hand she collapsed onto the ground, the weight of some unknown force crushing her very being. Destiny was such a big word. It made her worry about what kind of things awaited for her here in this new world. She had no skills that were needed to kill, just a hotheaded personality with a sense of justice. But maybe that within its self was all that she needed. Gazing at her hands she noticed something new on her body. The hand that Ezio had grabbed; a soft glow was emanating from her ring finger, soft and red. It gave its light to her for only a moment before returning her into the darkness. Then a deep Italian accented voice echoed across the room, from the entrance.
"Do you need help Girl?" He said, none to polite now that Minerva was gone. Alexandra turned to glare at him. With a flick of her tongue, and the taste of iron blood tingling on the tip of her lip; shakily she attempted to stand, using a wall for support. But Ezio was over to her in two strides. His voice not irritated but urgent. "Come we must go back to my villa to report to my Uncle, I believe that that woman wanted you to come with me."
"And you do what she says?" Alexandra countered. Now using him for support, her hands placed on his cold armor, one of his arms looped for her balance around her back.
"I do not see you as a threat you cannot even stand up correctly at the moment." Ezio made this observation very quickly and bluntly, making Alexandra's face snarl into a frown. But she remained silent as they began to walk out of the dark room and into the light of Roma. In the streets they walked, silently side by side. A cloak Ezio had "borrowed" from a passing monk covered Alexandra's odd outfit. He was rushing ahead, both of them were getting odd looks, many stared at Ezio's arm, it was covered in the drying blood of the guards he had slain to get to the man who had caused so much trouble for Italia. And they were also looking at Alexandra too, many old men leered at her, wondering aloud about how much she would cost to buy. It irritated Ezio. This girl was perhaps a child, since he did not know how old she was he could not exactly say if she was a child or not. But one thing about her was certain; she was pure, innocent, a virgin. He could tell this just by looking at the wonder in her face as they passed buildings that were a common site for him, though obviously not such a common sight for her. Ezio looked up as more men; Templars by the look of them were appearing in front of them. Tucking the girl under his arm he pulled his hood down and began to walk faster. She was having a hard time keeping up. Looking around for an escape route, Ezio found many for himself, but none that Alexandra could follow him. Pulling her closer to his chest he whispered. "Do not make a sound; some men who are looking for me are ahead of us. We need to sneak by."
Alexandra had seen the men come in formation as they had rounded the corner. And she was frightened; even as Ezio pulled her protectively to his chest and even warned her about the incoming danger. "Okay." She muttered pulling the cloak closer to her face. It did not smell good, but it was better than nothing at the moment. Their enemy was approaching fast. If they realize who Ezio was would he be able to kill all of them with her as a hindrance?
He felt good about her listening to him. With her tucked safely away under his arm and next to his chest, Ezio felt safer than he would have if he was alone. Understanding that even though he felt secure he could not let his guard down for one moment, because in that moment those men could recognize him and he and this girl would have to run for their lives. The Assassin knew right away that Alexandra could not run very far, just by the way she was out of breath from the pace they were at. His heart began to beat harder with adrenaline as the Templar's came closer. Keeping Alexandra under his arm he directed them into a near by crowd, blending in with them the guards walked by, their weapons up, obviously looking around for Ezio.
The danger was past, at least for the moment. Alexandra let out a breath she didn't know she was even holding in. Then snuggled into Ezio's warmth, people passed by and bumped her. The streets were crowded and she didn't know were she was. She had to completely trust on a man she only had known through a controller, and cut scenes within a videogame. Because the existence of Ezio Auditori was not stunning in the first place. Alexandra was reliving the game in her mind; she thought the character Ezio to be cocky and prude, one who wanted only revenge, but as the story went on she found herself falling in love with every move the character made, every move the person made. His life so intimately wrapped around hers, she shared his shock and fear as the events came and went. His excitement as his final enemy fell before him. His confusion with his meeting with the woman Minerva, then suddenly she was sitting on the floor next to him. Living the story herself. Even now, she could literally hear Ezio's heartbeat. No longer was this pixels and numbers. This was a living, breathing world to her. Not a book, not a game, she was not a spectator any longer. The sound of thousands of footsteps and voices echoed in her ears. Was this now her reality?
Ezio wound his way through the labyrinth of roadways; he was making a beeline towards the gates. But, as the came into view he realize he needed to find another way out for them. The guards were awaiting them, blades drawn. He stopped, pulling both him and Alexandra aside. Ezio pulled down her hood to know if she was listening to him. "There are more guards up there Piccolo." He called her this affectionately for at the moment her Greek name would cause people to gaze at them with burning curiosity. "We need to escape this city and that is the only way." Ezio was staring into her clear blue eyes that were full of readiness for whatever came, whatever he chose for them to do. "Piccolo." He said slowly. "We need to run across the roof tops." She couldn't run, so why did he even try to thrust such expectation on her small shoulders?
No other choice the roof tops were the only way. Alexandra had seen something like this coming. But she could not climb, she couldn't even run a mile without having to stop half way through. "I cant climb." She said bluntly. "I can run, I'm not.. I'm not.." An Assassin. She wanted to say it, but her voice had dropped off by the strange glimmer in Ezio's eye. "W-What?" She stuttered as he studied her.
She was light looking. Ezio realized all to late that he could carry her. "Do you have enough stamina to hold onto me as I get us across that wall?"
Alandra blinked. "Yes?" She said hesitantly. A grin flashed across Ezio's face.
"Molto buno poco." He turned and crouched. "Get on." He ordered. She did as he said, wrapping her arms around his neck, and her legs around his waist.
His armor cut into her chest, it was not ideal but it was comfortable enough. Standing upright Ezio then took off to the wall, and began to climb. Alexandra felt his muscles moving. Finally letting her blush to enter her cheeks she snuggled her face into his neck. Ezio Auditori was strong.
He could not be distracted from his task, but he was. Though his body was focused, his mind was actively studying how this girl's body fit to his own; it wasn't perfect, she was to soft, there must be barely a hint of muscle on her. Breaking from his thoughts for a brief moment, he grabbed hold of her legs and jumped across some roof tops, landing perfectly. He stood for a moment, then took off again. Ezio's mind returned to his analyzing. She was shorter than him by a dagger's blade. Her hands clenched in desperation, she was afraid to fall? Alexandra should know that he was man of pride, he would never let a lady fall to her death. But could he think of her as a "Woman"? She had come from a world not his own. Pulled from wherever by that thing that was in woman form. A girl that suddenly had no family whatsoever and was all alone. He could relate to her. Ezio snapped back as he leaped for the wall of the city, he began to climb; Alexandra had latched onto him harder, restricting his air a little, but not so much hat he couldn't take a gulp or two before climbing. Soon he reached the top, and with a quick glance around, made sure that there were no guards, jumped to the edge of the wall, and tapped Alexandra's hands. "Piccolo come here."
She released her death hold on Ezio's neck, balancing precariously on the same stone slab he was she looked up at him, his eyes were like hawks, looking around for predators, or prey. But in a flash he grabbed her and jumped off of the ledge, his hand covering her mouth as a soft scream emanated from her lips. Her fear not even dissipating when she looked at his smiling face; instead her eyes got wider. So this was what his smile looks like close up? It distracted her from the ground that was coming up to greet them. But yellow hay enveloped them in an soft embrace. She clutched at Ezio as he let out a laugh. Alexandra punched his exposed collar bone in retaliation.
"That was mean!" She nearly yelled; Alexandra was still attempting to yank his hand off her mouth.
Ezio, his smile remaining on his face got out of the cart of hay, setting her beside him; proceeded to brush off the stray fragments of the yellow hay that hid throughout her commandeered cloak. He tried to stop himself from laughing once more as he caught the frustrated pout appear on her face. Ezio straightened himself once his task was finished and held out his hand. "Come Piccolo." He ordered. Alexandra took his hand; his big warm hand.
They walked for a time, away from curious eyes. Ezio directed them to a horse; Alexandra blinked. "Do you expect me to ride this?" She asked looking at it with confusion. Ezio turned to frown at her.
"I expect you to get on and for me to steer this animal." He waved his hand in a dismissing manner. "Or are you telling me you don't know how to ride a horse?"
Alexandra shook her head. "I-I don't." Ezio stared at her, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"This just get better and better.." He muttered to himself as he walked over to the stunned girl. "Come here Piccolo." He heaved the screaming girl up on his shoulder and threw her onto the startled animal before climbing on himself. Ezio helped her as she righted herself and clung to him. He let out a laugh. Then reached around her to grab the reins, kicking the horse to set it in motion toward his villa, towards his home, and towards probably the greatest argument he would ever find himself in with his fellow Assassins.
Alexandra looked around; the land rushed by. Not in a blur like it would in a car, but enough to scare her. She could no control the animal; Ezio did. Alexandra had no control and it scared her. Knowing she was now in a land she could not comprehend, in a world where she could easily get killed, she was scared. Clutching Ezio's cloak she could see a stone wall coming into view, its form assembling like smoke before her. It was here, it was time.
Alexandra was about to meet the Assassin's.