Chapter 5

Come with Me

Isabel's POV

We returned to Paola and she walked to Auditore.

"You were gone for quite a while."

"Leonardo likes to talk."

I laughed a bit and he winked. That was odd for him.

"That he does. But I trust you did more than talk?"

He showed her the blade and she nodded.

"I've given you the skills, Leonardo has given you the blade. All that remains is the deed."

"Where can I find Uberto?"

"According to my girls, he'll be attending an unveiling tonight of Verrocchio's latest work. It will be held at the Santa Croce cloister."

He nodded.

"Watch over my mother and sister while we are away."

We? Is he talking about me?

"Of course Ezio. As if they were my own." Paola told him.

He now turned to me.

"I need your help."

I was surprised but I slowly nodded. We left and I pulled my hood over my face, as did he. We took my way to the Santa Croce cloister. He was just outside talking with another man.

"You have overstepped your bounds Uberto." he said.

"Who are you to speak of bounds? You, who have crowned yourself Lorenzo de' Medici, Principe (Prince) of Firenze."

"I've done no such thing."

"Of course not. Ever innocent. How convenient. At least now we see how far your reach extends- which is to say- nowhere at all. It has proved a valuable lesson for me and my allies."

"Yes. Your allies the Pazzi. Is that what this is about?"

Auditore tensed up and I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Be careful with your words Lorenzo. You might attract the wrong sort of attention."

We followed them. There were guards at every entrance. We blended in with the crowd and walked right in. Uberto was talking about the Auditore family. I walked around behind him so he could not escape. When Uberto saw him, Auditore ran forward. He stabbed him several times and I threw knives into the necks of two approaching guards.

"You would have done the same. To save the ones you love." Uberto said.

"Yes I would. And I have."

He slowly stood up and looked around.

"The Auditore are not dead. I'm still here. ME! Ezio! Ezio Auditore!"

At that point, the child I always took him for was gone. Now I saw a man. A strong and courageous man. He looked at me and I nodded. I heard guards coming and he grabbed my hand. We ran as fast as we could to Paola.

Ezio's POV

She'd been staring at me again, and not like everyone else. We escaped the guards and then ran through the door of Paola's home.

"Bentornato Ezio, Isabel. (Welcome back.) Were you successful?"

"Yes."

She clapped her hands and my mother and sister came.

"Madre?"

Claudia came running forward.

"Ezio! Where have you been? They wouldn't let us leave. And mother…Uch! She hasn't spoken a word since we left the house." Claudia said.

I hugged my mother tightly.

"Father will need to sort things out."

Ferrari and I looked at each other sadly.

"Where is father? And Federico? And Petruccio? Hmmm?"

"Something's happened."

"What do you mean?"

Ferrari looked away and closed her eyes. Claudia slowly realized what I meant.

"No. It's impossible!"

"Claudia…"

She backed away.

"No. No, no, no, no."

"I did everything I could, piccina (Little one.)."

She started to cry and I held her. A few stray tears rolled down Ferrari's cheeks. I knew Federico was her friend and she cared about him. I turned my attention back to Claudia.

"Listen, right now what matters is getting us all someplace safe. But to do that I need you to stay focused. Do you understand?"

She calmed down a bit and nodded.

"Good. Will you watch over mother for me?"

She nodded again and sat down with mother. I walked over to Ferrari and she looked at me.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything you've done."

"I would do it again in a heartbeat. You're no longer the childish boy I took you for. I see a man before me now. A good man with a loving heart. There were posters around the city with your face on them. I tore them down, moving around should be easier for you now."

I smiled softly.

"Thank you, so much."

She smiled at me. She had a bright and beautiful smile.

"I will go with you to the edge of the city. To make sure you make is safely."

I nodded and turned to Paola.

"Thank you, for everything."

She kissed my cheek and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Stay safe, Ezio. Stay vigilant. I suspect the road ahead is yet long." She leaned closer. "And you would be wise to keep Isabel with you. Always."

She walked us to the door and during that short walk, I thought about what she said. We walked through the gates and out of the city. After a while, Ferrari stopped.

"This is where we say goodbye."

Claudia hugged her tightly.

"Be strong Claudia."

"I will."

She stepped back and Ferrari nodded to me. She turned started to walk away. But I couldn't let her go.

"Wait!"

I ran to her and she turned.

"Come with me."

She looked a little confused.

"Why?"

I put my hand on her arm.

"I need you. With everything that's happened, you've always been right there beside me. I don't think I can do this without you. Come with me? Please?"

She slowly looked back at the city.

Isabel's POV

I looked at the city. I never really had a home anywhere, Federico and Claudia had been my only friends. But it was still all I knew. I looked back at Auditore. I realized I'd rather be with him.

"I will go with you. Anywhere you want to go."

He smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back.

"Graci."

"Prego."

I followed him to Monteggiorni. It was a long trip and we had to stop and rest for a while.

"Isabel?"

My eyes went wide.

"Did you call me Isabel?"

"That is your name."

"You've never addressed me that way. I was just surprised."

He nodded and poked the fire.

"Isabel…why were you living on the streets?" he asked.

I sighed and looked away.

"I'd rather not talk about it."

I saw Claudia shiver and I put my blanket over hers. I smiled a bit.

"You'll be cold."

"I've been cold before. She's miserable enough already. She doesn't need to be cold too."

He looked at me for a minute before getting up.

"May I?"

I nodded and he sat down beside me.

"Here…"

He put his arms around me so his warm body was pressed against mine. It was strange. These past weeks had thrown us together unlike ever before. Now he had asked me to come with him. It did get cold and I was grateful to him for keeping me warm.

Ezio's POV

I'd never realized how thin she was until I had her in my arms. I could almost feel her ribs through her cloths. Even if I wanted to ask, she'd already fallen asleep. I still wanted to know why she wanted to help my family so much.

Maybe it's because she has no family. Duccio said she was an orphan.

I'd always given her a hard time, and she did nothing but laugh me off. I closed my eyes and absentmindedly rubbed her arm.

"I'm so sorry for what I've said to you over the years. I will make it right, I promise."

I laid my head against hers and sighed.

"I will make it right." I whispered.

She moved a bit and her arm fell across me.

Isabel's POV

By the end of the next day he told us we were close.

"Grazie a Dio." (Thank God.) Claudia said.

We kept going when Vieri stepped out. I kept Claudia and Maria behind me.

"Buon giorno (Good day) Ezio."

He looked at me and then back to Vieri.

"How could you leave Firenze without saying a proper goodbye?"

He had guards with him. A few of them came up behind us.

"Ezio!" I said.

He turned and then I pushed his mother and sister closer. I faced the guards behind us.

"What do you want Vieri?" he asked.

"So many things! A larger palazzo, two new steeds, a prettier bride…" he drew his sword. "Oh and yes…your life."

I backed up into Ezio and took out two knives. The guards came forward and I stayed close to Claudia and Maria. I either killed or wounded any guard that came near us. I saw Vieri making a move towards Ezio.

"No!"

He saw me running towards him and jumped back as I swung my knife. I still managed to cut his cheek. He touched it and I saw the blood on his fingers.

"Puttana! Finish them! Do not spare the women."

I threw two knives into a pair of them but then they were all struck by arrows. I looked around and Ezio pulled me closer to him, along with his mother and sister.

"What sorcery is this?!"

"Not sorcery boy, skill!"

"Show yourself!" Vieri demanded.

"As you wish!"

The sword was knocked out of Vieri's hands and a man with a bad eye ran out. He tossed Ezio and I swords.

"Here use these."

"Kill them! Kill them all!"

The man ran at Vieri and he ran off. The remaining guards came at us and with the help of the man and his friends, we drove them off. Ezio took my arm and looked at my shoulder.

"You're hurt."

"It's only a scratch, I promise."

He nodded and the man came forward. Ezio held out the sword.

"You have my thanks."

"Keep the sword Ezio. And you as well girl."

Ezio looked at me before turning back to the man.

"Do I know you from somewhere?"

"Don't you recognize me? it's a-me Mario!"

Ezio looked shocked.