Disclaimer: I own nothing from Assassins Creed, not the games, movies, or books. Nothing! No Ezio. No Altair. I own nothing. This is purely for amusement, nothing else! I just write to better myself as a writer, and learn and develop my style. And for the readers enjoyment, after all.
Summary: Will you live or will you die? That is the question that Olivia Steel faces as her life is on a collision course with danger and a reunion with the man, Ezio Auditore—the man she loved and left behind three years ago. With more secrets than she can carry, will Olivia be able to change the tide in the never ending battle of Assassins versus Templars? Or will she be the one to seal their fates?
Pairings: Olivia(OC)/Ezio, sort of established romance
Author's Note: This is a sequel to "Life, Death and a Choice". You don't necessarily need to read that to enjoy this story, but if you don't want to feel lost at times, I suggest going to read that before this one. (*Also note that Life, Death, and a Choice is currently be edited! Chapter 10 and up have yet to be edited and updated!) This story will definitely have a different tone than the last one, but will not feel too separate from it I hope. Anyways, I hope that you all enjoy it and come to love it.
Assassins Creed Renaissance: This books helped me a lot with Ezio's point of view as well as the game, so I wanted to throw in a disclaimer here. It's not word for word what's in the book, but some parts may seem familiar.
I want to thank DannyPhantom619, Jadestone112, LaPersphone, LovelyThorn, Randomfox77, Shadow Operative, Sheity Williams, Sketchninja7, The Chaos of the Stars, c8499145, justme2134, Antyto-sama, Tyvot, unconditionally-infinite, dovakinrules, Shy911, Cho Tamazaki, ohnodddd, DarkDust27, Jade Celandine, girl falcona, Ashalenn, Yuuki Tsukiyomi, Dragon'sMaw, North Moonlight, Gen0cideRun for all the favs. :D
I want to thank Azminara, Delphine Pryde, Fredegar, Jadestone112, LaPersephone, Randomfox77, Sheity Williams, Shketchninja7, Special Agent Author, The Chaos of the Stars, ThisIsHope, c8499145, justme2134, Antyto-sama, Lilith67, ShioriOokami, Tyvot, unconditionally-infinite, Kementari689, relena soulheart, Shy911, Assassinwonderer, DannyPhantom619, DarkDust27, Yuuki Tsukiyomi, Dragon'sMaw, North Moonlight, Dance FLY, and Gen0cideRun for the follows! :D
I want to thank ohnodddd, Shy911, Gemma, Delphine Pryde and Danny Phantom619 for the reviews!
Guest Reviews:
Gemma: Yep! Olivia is back, and is ready to get back her life. I happy that you like the story, and I hope it doesn't disappoint. Thank you so much for the review!
Songs that Inspired this Chapter:
Olivia's Main Theme Song: "Rise" by State of Mine
"Help I'm Alive" by Metric
Chapter Two
"Help I'm Alive (And it Hurts)"
It was the dry, cracking pain in her throat that drew Olivia out of the inky blackness of unconsciousness. The more her mind inched away from slumber, the more aches and pain made themselves known. The throb in her temples, the raspy feeling in her lungs, and the knot in her stomach all of it pressed in on her incessantly, pulling her immediately to a state of panic. Her limbs felt like she had torn every ligament and shredded every muscle into a thousand pieces. Her eyelids were like heavy lead weights, and it took nearly all her strength to pry them open. Olivia shoved herself up off the stray bedding on shaky and trembling limbs, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit homely hovel that surrounded her.
The dying fire barely chasing off the night chill, and she wrapped her arms around her tightly, shivering violently. Her memories were cloudy and jumbled, a spike of fear travelling down her spine when she heard footsteps coming closer. Her head jerked to the side, and she saw a silhouette of a woman in the threshold to the other room. "Wha—" Her voice cracked, her voice was too dry. She flinched at the scraping agony that burned up her esophagus, and her hand came up to touch her throat. When the woman walked towards her, Olivia felt her entire body coil tight. "Stay back!"
The words were like tongues of fire, causing her to choke on her breaths and cough violently.
The woman held up her hands. "Be at ease, child. I mean you no harm. I am Cecilia and you reside in my husband's home. We found you after you washed ashore," Cecilia said, in a low and calm tone. She walked over to the small kitchen table, and picked up the pitcher of water.
Olivia watched the woman covered in shadows, unblinking as she poured a cup of water and then brought it to her. The wooden cup was a bit cumbersome to hold in her shaking hand, and Olivia lifted it to sniff at the liquid cautiously. It was odorless as drinking water was, but not all poisons gave off a scent. However, her mind reasoned that if the woman wanted her dead that she had ample opportunity to do so before now. She weighed the pros and cons, before she lifted the cup to her lips and took a delicate sip. If it was death then it was the sweetest tasting death she had the privilege to encounter. The lukewarm water was practically paradise, sliding down her raw throat and she took a few more greedy sips before she lowered the cup. Holding the cup in her lap, Livvy raised her head to look at the woman and asked, "Where am I? And may I ask where my clothes are?"
"Your clothes were soaked. I changed you in some space clothes I had from when our daughter still lived with us," Cecilia said, gently. "Thankfully, they fit. You clothes are clean and are just over on the table."
Olivia glanced over, and her eyebrow shot up to her hairline. It was a white robe eerily like an Assassins, the red Shroud laid our deceptive and innocent looking and she felt a burning anger spark in her heart at the sight of it. She swallowed it down, frowning at the hidden blade that rested on top of her clothing.
"You are in Naples," Cecilia added, as an afterthought.
"Naples?" She tried to pour through her memories, trying to figure out how she went from Monteriggioni to Naples and acquired the robe and blade. But nothing came to mind, which made Olivia feel even more concerned than ever before. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, and the cup between her hands shook. "When?"
Cecilia looked bemused. "When?"
"The d-date," she elaborated, a horrible sensation unfurled in the pit of her stomach. "What is the date?"
"The 19th day of July in the year 1482."
1482.
Olivia felt like she had been stabbed in her heart, the cup slipped out of her grasp. The last bit of water spilt across her lap and a few droplets crashed the wooden floor. "Four years?" She croaked out, her voice was barely more than a whisper. Despair and heartbreak etched onto her face, and all the blood drained leaving her white as a ghost. Tears sprung into her eyes, Olivia didn't want to believe what she just heard because it was true then it upended her entire life, and the urge to accuse the woman of lying was on the tip of her tongue. But Cecilia didn't have a reason to lie, and about something that was so easily disproven. That thought crushed the last bit spark of hope in her chest, and she felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown.
Four years. Four fucking years!
Livvy could only imagine whatever believed happened to her. In the eyes of her friends and loved ones, she would have appeared dead. All her important connections in her life severed, and she could feel the fear clogging her throat. Things wouldn't—couldn't be the same. How could they when so much time had passed? Four years might seem inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but in a person's life that was a lot of time to be missing. It was so quiet that she could have sworn she heard her heart crack, and fall apart in her chest. She had never believed in the fairness of the world, she had endured too much to have faith in that.
Still, she couldn't believe how the control she had on her own life had been taken away by a mysterious force again. She thought about all her friends, and wondered where they were now. Her thoughts flashed to Ezio, the way he had looked at her so tenderly that night, and she shook her head. She knew the second she thought about him—where he was, who he was with, what he had been doing—she would be led down the rabbit hole of a pain that she couldn't escape. Her shoulders shook from the violent breaths she was breathing in, and she had unconsciously curled inward on herself, with tears trickling down her cheeks.
Cecilia patted her, sympathetically on the shoulder. "You appear to have gone through quite an ordeal, haven't you dear?"
Cecilia had no idea how right she was.
9th February 2011
Monteriggioni, Italy
Auditore Villa
Leo Hayes knew he shouldn't prejudge anyone, especially based on a brief demo of a game where he had not gotten any depth beyond the moments where William Miles forcibly made the other Assassins put Desmond back into the Animus to make him relive Connor Kenway's memories and only commentary from the creators at Ubisoft of just how bad the father/son relationship between William and Desmond was. It didn't help that Leo was reminded a bit of his bio-donor (the man didn't deserve the term 'dad) by William, but Leo out of all the AC characters, he identified with Desmond the most. So he might be a little weirdly protective, as if he were trying to shield the man from the kind of psychological agony he had went through trying to earn his father's approval.
And he was prone to putting his feet into his mouth, so the words were out before he could help it.
William Miles looked momentarily taken aback, and then his expression set eerily into stone. "So it seems that the rumors were right. You brought an outsider into the Monteriggioni Sanctuary without permission of any Master Assassin," he stated, the disapproval etched into every line on his face. His icy blue eyes were narrowed, and he stepped forward which caused everyone to tense upward. "Do you want to explain yourselves, or shall I have to send you all to be trialed by the Council?"
Lucy sucked in a harsh breath, sharing a quick glance with Rebecca and Shawn. It was clear that the Council were the ones in the charge of the Brotherhood and not people to be fucked with. Leo felt a tangible fear grow within him, and for the first time, he felt truly afraid for his life. Sure, Lucy pointing a gun at him had sucked, but he had known the group could be reasoned with. He didn't know William Miles or his characters, and he most certainly didn't know about this Council.
Desmond stepped forward. "There is a valid reason that Leo is here with us. I'm not sure you are going to believe what has been happening, we have been the only ones aware of the changes that have been happening," he started, his tone reasonable and calm. It was as if Lucy's hand on his back acted like an anchor for Desmond to keep his cool in front of his father when Leo knew he likely wanted to snap or blow up.
"What changes might those be?" William asked, skeptically.
"Olivia Steel is a time traveller, from a world not like ours. She had information about the future of the Assassins and used it to change the outcome of certain things," Shawn explained, pulling his glass of his face and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I have archived all the discrepancies in the timeline that have happened because of her good will meddling, and I can tell you that we are far better off for it."
"And if Olivia was sent to the past for a reason, then we believe that Leo was brought here for a reason, too," Rebecca stated, arms folded over her chest.
"You believe that this man is from another world?" William glanced over at Leo. "And you just trust his word?"
Leo bristled slightly.
"Well, when this guy magically appears out of thin air it seemed like a good time to start developing a bit of faith," Desmond said, with a scathing tone.
Seconds of silence passed where William held his son's gaze, as if trying to see into his soul. It was nearing a minute before William broke his gaze away from Desmond, and made his way to the research table. "There a piece that Machiavelli did dedicated to the Red Hood. Due to the events and occasions it dealt with, it has been kept away from the public and hidden away in the Assassin Archive in London, but Machiavelli wrote in a later passage of the work, he made a comment about how OIivia Steel was a traveller from a faraway land," William commented, with a great furrow upon his brow. He glanced away from the group to the various search on Shawn's desk, and ignoring the way Shawn got flustered with his stuff being messed with. "I had always assumed that she was a Sage, given the stories told about her. A time traveller, though? At first, it sounds preposterous, but when you think about it…it is not entirely impossible given the powers at work here."
Desmond looked astounded. "You believe us?"
William gave him a long look. "I am giving you the benefit of the doubt. Just because something is possible, doesn't mean it is the truth, but I'm not about to put some of our best our in the field in front of the Council unless absolutely necessary. Also I'd rather not have your mother bust my balls," he chuckled, a good-natured grin break the stoic and harsh nature he had only seconds ago.
Leo seemed stunned, but he doubted he held a candle to what Desmond was currently experiencing. The Assassin-in-Training seemed flabbergasted by the humor his father was showing as if it had just turned his entire world upside down.
"Your mother also is looking forward to having some choice words for you, Desmond," William added, after a moment. "Some words she has been saving up ever since you ran away from the Farm."
"And you don't?" Desmond raised a brow.
"I think the tongue thrashing your mother can provide will more handle things." William stepped forward, clapping his son on the shoulder and smiled broadly at him. "Regardless, I am glad to see you. When we heard that you had been captured by Abstergo, we were worried about you. It is why we ended Lucy's covert mission, in order to get you out before the Templars could do further harm. I am only sorry that we weren't able to get you out sooner, but you are here now, and that's all that matters."
Desmond stood there, rooted to the spot. Lucy was blinking rapidly, looking disgruntled about the new memories she was likely having to sort through. Shawn and Rebecca looked uncomfortable, as if they had been waiting for an explosion and were confused as to what to do now that it appeared no such fight was going to happen. Leo stood there, with a million questions and thoughts in his head. He voiced none of them, too afraid to lose the sudden burst of good will that William gave them.
Leo was starting to believe Olivia was a witch. How else could she work so much magic in the past that it affected the timeline so greatly? He wasn't sure if the world needed more of her magic or less of it before it got turned upside completely.
"Now, tell me about why you all need to become art thieves."
Lucy and Desmond shared a look, before the blond woman stepped forward. "We have this theory about a portrait—the one that Leonardo da Vinci painted of Olivia Steel—may actually have a hidden clue that could help lead us to a Piece of Eden, or something as equally important," she answered, her words chosen carefully.
William nodded. "Go on."
"The portrait is in the possession of a private collector known as Oleander Clarel who is in London. A bit of recluse, using proxies to purchase portraits and artifacts, but known also for his philanthropy. We have no idea what the man looks like. Apparently, he was diagnosed with DID and lived most of his life behind his castle walls. And by castle, I mean, a legit castle," Shawn stated, pulling up a picture of the beautiful gothic fortress. "It is implied that the castle has been passed down through the family, and all the records and papers seem to be in order. However, there was no real mention of the Clarel family in London until about 1843, and the records are vague at best when it comes to the family tree."
"You think it's a templar's stronghold?" Rebecca asked, worriedly.
"It wouldn't be the first time they took the Assassins' History and put it on display like it was a trophy they had won," Lucy commented, with a light huff.
"It's possible, but I don't know," Shawn narrowed his eyes at the information that streamed across the computer screen. "There is something about this that we are missing. Like a key piece of evidence that without, we will never be able to solve what's going on."
"It is an interesting lead," William admitted. "I'll notify the London Brotherhood. See if there is anything in their records about the Clarel family, and only until we hear back will we decide on what to do with this portrait business. Until then Desmond will start training, not just forced to sit inside the Animus for days on end."
"Wait! I just had an idea!" Rebecca jolted as if struck by lightning. "What if we use the Animus to prove that Leo is telling the truth about being from another world?"
"What?" Leo looked flabbergasted.
"Think about it," Rebecca reasoned, getting very excited. "Your world didn't have Templar or Assassins, meaning the events of history unfolded differently without them. Your ancestors might not have been prominent figures of history, but somewhere along your bloodline, there could be proof of the differences between our world's history and your own. Your DNA can't lie. It has no reason to."
"You want me?" Leo swallowed, thickly. "In the Animus?"
"It could validate your story. The Council is bound to get involved sooner than later, and hard evidence like your DNA memories could help your case," William nodded, seeing no flaw in Rebecca's logic.
Leo thought it over, in meticulous detail. It was a good theory, after all. What better way to ascertain the differences in his world's history versus this one, than to actually take a look back into history itself through his DNA? How many people would jump at the chance to see their ancestors' lives, good or bad? It had more pros going for it than cons—though the Bleeding Effect was a mighty big con—so Leo nodded his head after a time. "Alright. I'll do it," he agreed, a hint of nerves in his voice. "When Desmond's training, I guess I'll be inside of the Animus. Just…just promise me that I'm not going to slip into a coma and die, or something? That would really suck."
"Don't worry, Leo," Desmond grinned, understanding his worries. "With these guys—and gals—you'll be in good hands."
"Then it settled. Be ready at dawn for training, Desmond," William said, with a half smile. "I hate to be kept waiting."
"Whoa! What?" Desmond's eyes grew huge. "You are—you are—"
"The one who is going to be overseeing your training? Yes."
With that William Miles exited the room, leaving everyone inside of it feel like they had taken a trip down a rabbit hole from which they couldn't return. Desmond groaned, dragging his hands down his face and muttered underneath this breath, "When I think shit couldn't get any damn weirder."
Venice, Italy
23rd July 1482
Venice under the steady rule of Doge Giovanni Mocenigo was not an awful place to be.
On the scale of things, it was quite peaceful now that there was a peace agreement with the Turks, and the city prospered, with the trade routes by sea and land were secure. Business was booming even if the interests were high, but the investors were bullish and the savers content. The Church was wealthy, fed with daily tithes by the faithful which in turn helped lend to the many number of artists who given patronage by spiritual leaders. Doge Dandolo had displayed the treasures looted from Constantinople after the Fourth Crusade unashamedly; the four bronze horses ranged along the upper façade of the St. Mark's Basilica being the most obvious.
The markets were filled with people, admiring goods from all over and willing to pay more than a few coins for such luxuries. Venice held a charm and beauty, not unlike Ezio's home of Firenze, but there were shadows that lurked beneath the fine fixtures and mask of normalcy. The Templar influence was heavily rooted here, more deeply embedded than any other place in Italy he had ever been. From the canal bank, not far from the Marchese de Ferrara, Ezio heard raised voices that pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned his head, subtly and watched from underneath the shadow of his hood, two guards harassing a businessman.
"You were told to stay at home, sir," said one of the officers.
The businessman looked confused. "But my rent is paid. I have every right to sell my wares here."
"Sorry, sir, but it's in contravention of Messer Emilio's new rules. I'm afraid you are in a serious situation, sir."
Emilio Barbarigo. A blight upon the beautiful Venice, and a coward that hid behind his policies and guards. He was the next name that Ezio intended to mark off his list, and he casually made his way up the stairs.
"I'll appeal to the Council of Ten!"
"No time for that, sir," the second uniform said, kicking down the awning of the businessman's stall. It was obvious the guards intended to loot the best wares, and destroy the rest.
Slipping a bomb out of his belt, Ezio tossed it. As soon as it slammed into the cobblestone ground, the white smoke was released with a hiss and allowed Ezio to slit the guards' throat and disappear before the smoke cleared. He heard the businessman shriek, and made his way down an alleyway. He made for the Guild, which was no easy task in this maze like city with all the twisting canals, low arches, and dead ends. Finally, he made his way to the home of Antonio—the amministratore of the Guild of Professional Thieves of Venice—and every time he entered, he was always struck with a thought. A thought on how Olivia would have loved this place and the rebelling hearts of its people, and perhaps that is the thing that charmed him most of Venice. It's spirit and nature reminded him a bit of the woman he loved, and he could imagine her with a piece of charcoal in her hand, drawing the grand buildings and statues on a piece of paper. It made his heart ache that he never got to bring her here.
Sometimes, in quiet moments, he could swear he sees Olivia out of the corner of his eye. A fleeting shadow that comes and goes with a ghost-like silence, but he says nothing of the visions. He keeps the hint of madness only to himself, cherishing the brief glimpse that for some reason given as much hope as they do despair. He walked into the amministratore's office which was a book-lined room, expensive books in good binding, fine Ottoman carpets, walnut and boxwood furniture, and silver-gilt and candelabras. It was a comfortable place that Antonio had made for himself that was for sure. Ezio walked to the large table in the center of the room, and his fingers traced across the model for the Palazzo Seta.
"Ah, Ezio, there you are," Antonio grinned, when he entered the room. "Is there anything I can offer you? Biscotti? Un caffe?"
"A what?" Ezio looked over at him confused.
"A coffee." Antonio straightened himself. "It's an interesting little concoction, brought to me by a Turkish merchant. I have found the liquid quite addicting. Here, try some." He passed Ezio a tiny white porcelain cup filled with a hot black liquid from which a pungent aroma came.
Ezio tasted the drink, flinching in surprise at how it burned his lips. It was not bad by any means, and he said so, but added, thoughtlessly, "It could be better with a bit of cream and sugar, I should think."
Antonio scoffed, lightly. "The most assured way to ruin it," he replied, with no true heat in his voice. The two finished their drinks before they spoke on the mission at hand. "These were the positions we had planned if Rosa had succeeded in getting in and opening on of the postern-gates," he gestured to the small handcrafted mannequins that lined the model on the table. "When she was hurt, as you well know, we were forced to retreat. As we regroup, that will give Emilio time to strengthen his defenses. But our last venture was costly, and I am done to my last soldo. We need help to fill our coffers again. I think you may be able to provide that help. If you do, it will demonstrate to me that you are an all worth helping. Might you undertake such a mission, Mr. Cream-and-Sugar?" Antonio smirked.
Ezio smiled. "Try me," he said.
Naples, Italy
31st July 1482
It was a quiet little niche that Olivia Steel had slipped into this last week and a half.
And one wholly unsuited for her, even if the silence was a solace to her aching heart. The simpler things in life had been what kept her from drowning underneath the weight of grief that settled upon her soul, but her thoughts always turned to the past, and chased the simpler things away. The breeze off the ocean had chased away the lingering mist and rain, clearly out the sky and the sun was shiny down onto the beach. Unlike in her time period, there were not a great deal of people were out on the beach besides fishermen and the like.
Four years of her life had been stolen from her, and it wasn't just time that had been taken away. Stepping back into her old life and relationships wouldn't be as easy as slipping on an old shoe, Olivia knew she would have to pick up the pieces and build back what she could, and start anew in other places. Her fingertips were smudged with traces of ink, where she had penned more letters. She had sent two to Monteriggioni for Ezio and Mario, but if she were right about the timeline then Ezio would be in Venice. His letter would not reach him, her gut twisted painfully at the thought. She had sent others to Luca, Ciana, La Volpe, and Machiavelli. She did not know where to send one to Leonardo or Gaspare. She hoped that her carefully penned letters would bring her much needed aid, and that her friends—well, she wasn't sure La Volpe could be consider a "friend"—believed that it was her. She had tried to subtly hint at knowledge or things that only she would know. She had been gone for four years and likely thought dead, so she had to do this in order to gain their attention.
That did not mean Olivia intended to sit idle. If her allies could not be swayed with letters, she had another plan already in place. Through the kindness of Enrico and Cecilia, she had spent her time laboring away at the local tavern under the guise of "Mona"—a little nod to Leonardo. She was gathering enough coin for passage to Venice, and from there she would work to find her old friends and allies. There was a great amount of fear that slithered through her. How much had changed since she had been gone? Were Ciana and Gaspare still together? Was Claudia still managing the books for her uncle? Had Maria Auditore come out of her comatose state and spoken? Did Ezio still love her, or had he moved on? Tears filled her eyes when a crushing wave of sadness rolled over her like a dark cloud. So many things were uncertain, but she couldn't live not knowing the answers. No matter how painful the reality she would face could be, she had to face it and now in order to know where to go from there.
Her grey eyes stared with loathing at the fabric wrapped tight around her waist. As much as she wished she could be rid of the thing, she knew that the Pieces of Eden were quite powerful and in the wrong hands they could do much harm. She would have to bear the burden until she could return it to the Brotherhood and have nothing to do with it every again. It had been cause of all her current anguish. It had drawn her away from Ezio's side all those years ago. Like a puppet on strings she was helplessly and forced to obey. She had been lured to the depths of the Auditore Crypts where the Shroud had been hidden, and Ezio had almost reached her. He almost stopped her, but her fingers clutched the fabric. A bright light had blinded her, and the next thing she recalled was awakening here in Naples, Italy nearly four years later.
What was furthermore perplexing was the fact that her clothes were that of an Assassin, but not just any old assassin. The robes were eerily similar, if not identical to Altair's from the first game.
Olivia was from the future. An alternative universe's future where this had all been just a game, and a story that she had romanticized and fallen in love with. And then, it had all became too real. Struck by a car, she had died a quick, but painful death. The next thing she knew, she was awoke to a forest and soon found that she had gone from a sleepy little town in 2013 to 1474 Tuscan Italy. As if that hadn't been hard enough to comprehend, she soon found herself being followed by none other than Federico Auditore. A scrape with the guards had resulted in her crossing paths with Giovanni Auditore—she hadn't realized that being all poisoned and unconscious at the time—and the man was curious as to why she glowed green. It felt like being caught in a dream that hadn't quite turned into a full fledge nightmare, but certainly had the capability of doing so.
After struggling with her foreknowledge, Olivia inserted herself into the plot of the story. It hadn't been easy. She hadn't meant to create the Red Hood, at first. She had tried to save a person's life and he died anyways. She was hauled off to a "prison" that wasn't technically supposed to exist. Found a friend in her cellmate and a guard, and blew the place up. Literally. Thus the legend began, and all that jazz. So much had changed since then, and whatever naïve notions she still clung to had been swept away in the years that followed.
She had failed in changing some things, and succeeded in others. One of her greatest failures was the deaths of Federico, Petuccio, and Giovanni. She had been prepared to save them, but the goddess Juno did not take well to an "exiled" meddling with fate's affairs. Olivia managed to get the goddess to back off—by some power, she knew not—but she had been on the brink of collapse afterwards. She had tried to warn Giovanni, but her warnings hadn't helped. Uberto had made Lorenzo appear the traitor, and Giovanni trusted the wrong man. Olivia rushed to the execution, pushed her battered body to the edge of exhaustion and agony, but she had been too late. One last look upon Federico, who had become her friend, and the platform had been swept out from underneath them. The crowds roar had silenced her scream of despair, and in the wake of that devastation is where she met Ezio.
Battling against the guards, the two fled the scene.
Their friendship had born out of ashes of death on a bloody and dark day.
She hadn't intended to stick Ezio's side like she was his shadow. She had intended to help him from afar like all the others did, to keep herself from getting too close, but then he asked her to help get his mother and sister to safety—to help him, and one look into his golden eyes filled with despair and grief, and she just couldn't tell him no. Soon after that, anyone that saw the Assassin knew that the Red Hood was not far behind, and vice versa.
Years passed as they learned and fought together. Templars taken down, codex pages found, and so much more. The inexplicable bond they shared was forged in battle, but tempered by patience and time. It was the strongest kind of bond there was and only strengthened by love. Oh, she fought it. She knew the future. She knew Ezio ended up with someone else—someone who could bear him children, and make him happy whereas she could not. So she had resigned herself to the fact her love would go unrequited.
Except it hadn't gone as unrequited as she had thought.
In all came to a head after Giaordano Borgia's demise at her hand. Rodrigo didn't care for his brother, his murderous ways was a stain that the ambitious Templar could not afford, but that didn't mean he took well the news of his death. It had been too personal, and too close of a hit for the prideful bastard to ignore. A massive manhunt had been set upon Italy for the head of the Red Hood, and anyone harboring the thief or suspected of harboring the thief was punished harshly.
No one knew beyond the Brotherhood and a select few that the Red Hood was a woman. It had made slipping out of Firenze and to Monteriggioni easy, but the worry was not gone. So many things happened up to the point that Olivia thought the only way for her to protect those that she loved was to leave them, and have Borgia chasing after her, so his eyes would be nowhere near Ezio or the others. On the night that she came to this conclusion, Ezio did something utterly unexpected.
He disclosed his feelings for her. He did not say the specific word "love", but Olivia was no fool. She could read between his passionate words that had tested all her self-control, and had her heart all twisted in two different directions. They had fought, she walked away, and then she came back. To say good-bye, to tell him not to follow her, but she was a weak, weak woman.
She surrendered herself to him, to one night of passion. They had made love, exploring and savoring each other. Knowing what she knew about the future it had been wholly selfish to give into such desires because she knew that Ezio's bloodline needed to continue for Desmond to be born, and she was not a part of that no matter how much she wished it. Maybe if Ezio had moved on during the last four years, then it would be easier to close the door on the part of herself that loved him. It would be painful and hurt like hell, but the future was at stake. Agony curled into a ball and wedged into the back of her throat at the thought of Ezio with another woman, and she wrapped her arms around her midsection, staring out at the ocean that lay before her.
The hidden blade set heavily upon her wrist, costumed made to fit her slender arm. If she had gained this hidden blade during her four missing years, had she somehow had contact with other assassins? Who and where? Did the Italian Brotherhood know? If not, why? So many questions and so little answers. It was enough to drive her crazy. She let out a deep sigh, and made her way up the beach back towards the town.
"Mona! Mona!" A little girl by the name of Juliette rushed down the hill towards her. Juliette was Enrico and Cecilia's grandchild whom had been sent to stay with them during the summer to escape the heart of the conflict that had broken out between Venice and Ferrara. She had dark curls and a cherub face, the brightest pair of blue eyes the likes she had never seen. The child was curious and bubbly, bright as the sun. She followed Olivia around, asking her a million questions and Olivia couldn't get annoyed with her if she tried.
"What is the matter, Julie?" Olivia asked, momentarily worried. "Has something happened?"
Juliette took a moment to suck in a dramatic breath of air. "No, I just wanted to see you."
Oh, to be young again, Olivia grinned broadly. Children had such a simplistic view on life, it was refreshing when one had to deal with subterfuge and half-truths day in and day out. "Then I am honored and humbled that you wished to check up on me," Olivia told the child, with a light laugh. There was something about the child, the way she was inquisitive that reminded her painfully of Petuccio.
"Will you help me collect some seashells?" Juliette asked, tugging on Olivia's sleeve ever so slightly.
Livvy nodded. "I have a little spare time."
The two gathered at the edge of the water, where the waves lapped at their bare feet—their saddles discarded further up from the shore not to get swept away—and her fingers dug into the wet sand, the coarse granules slipping out between her fingers. The hems of her robes were soaked, and she pulled another shell free from where it was hidden. A tiny bivalvia shell that was had a beautiful dark reddish and white striped back that ran down the back of it, and she placed it in the pile of shells that they had already gathered.
"Hey, Mona," Juliette said, plopping in the wet sand beside the older woman. "Where did you come from? You look funny."
Livvy bit back a chuckle. "From very far away, across the waters."
"Oh." Juliette accepted the answer, though it wasn't a good one. "What is that on your arm?"
Olivia looked down the hidden blade, and then at the child. "So full of questions today, you are as curious as a cat," she stated, hoping that her statement would change the subject.
"Cats are funny, but the one near our house is mean. He clawed me. See," Juilette said, sticking out her leg to show Olivia the claw marks that ran down her calf. "Papa shooed him away with a broom after that."
"Some stray cats have never really been around humans, so they get scared and lash out," Livvy commented, lightly. "That cat probably thought you were so kind of giant there to steal its food."
"I'm not a giant! I'm tiny!" Juliette complained, with a huff.
"So you are," Livvy laughed. "My mistake, little one."
Juliette sat there with a mild pout on her face for all of a moment, before her curiosity once again got the best of her. She sat up on her knees, and pointed at the hidden blade gauntlet on Olivia's care. "Can touch it?" She asked, with wide eyes.
"Why?" Olivia blinked.
"It looks interesting," the child shrugged.
Olivia stared at the child for a long silent moment, before she nodded her head. She didn't see any harm in allowing Juliette to look at the hidden blade, the mechanism was after all inside where her wrist was and the little girl couldn't activate the weapon. "Careful," Olivia warned, gently. The little girl nodded her head, her fingers reaching out to touch the gauntlet and her thumb traced the symbol of the brotherhood. She looked bemused and a bit curious, which compelled Olivia to ask, "Is something the matter?"
Juliette looked up at her, and gave an answer that felt like a knife to her gut.
"It's just that…I've seen that symbol before."
END OF CHAPTER!
Juliette is so me as a child, not even playing.
Next Chapter: Where did Juliette see the Assassins Symbol before? Olivia may gain allies that will help her return to her home and loved ones, but there are enemies that all too near.
Reference and Languages:
Administratore (Italian) Administrator
Biscotti, known also as cantuccini, are Italian almond biscuits that originated in the city of Prato. They are a twice-baked, oblong-shaped, dry, crunchy and may be dipped in a drink.
Un Caffe (Italian) a coffee.
1.) Please note that I am NOT done with editing "Life, Death and a Choice". Chapter Twelve and up still need to be edited and gone through, so certain details will change. Overall the story and plot will be mostly the same, but I am doing my best to smooth out the timeline and other discrepancies as best as I can while adding depth and more scenes to the previous story. You won't have to reread it to follow "the Lie of Purgatory" but if something conflict, like little details then it is only that I haven't edited that part of LDaaC yet to fit the current canon of this fanfiction. Also, reminder, as long as I am editing the LDaaC story, updates on this won't be frequent. I will try to write ahead, and occasionally post new chapters when I can, but my focus is on editing that and finishing up more stories to lighten my load so to say. Thank you all for being incredible patience with me.
2.) We are also seeing Olivia Steel on her way to breakdown. It will honestly get a whole lot worse for her before it gets better, and she is going to go into some very dark, dark places before the light at the end of the tunnel. I will flag chapters with appropriate warnings.
RRs are appreciated.