Chapter 13

Another Falls

Isabel's POV

"They're the same ones who killed my family aren't they?"

He sighed and stopped. I looked at him and he put his hands on my arms.

"During that meeting, they mentioned your father, Dante. Just as they mentioned my father. Rodrigo did not like your father, I don't think he knows you're still alive."

Anger coursed through me.

"Well then, when the time comes I shall have to disappoint and scare him."

"Scare him?"

I looked into his eyes.

"He killed our families for a reason. He feared them. He left Claudia and your mother alive, why do you think that is? I remember my brother Luciano running with me. Even when he stopped they went after him, not me. He didn't think I would be a threat because I am a woman. And he probably believed I would be too young to remember. I am a descendent of that Babylonian assassin. That's why he killed my family, my father was an assassin, just like yours. The only difference is, you were able to grow up with both parents and your brothers."

"Oh Isabel."

He pulled me to his chest and put his hand on the back of my head.

"I want them all dead, Ezio. I want them to pay for what they have done. To both of us."

"They will la mia rosa. They will, I promise."

"I love you Ezio."

"I love you too."

He kissed me softly before we left.

He led me to Volpe and I glared at him.

"Ferrari please let me explain-"

I looked away. I heard him walk forward but Ezio stopped him.

"This can be handled later. For now we have bigger problems."

I sighed and nodded.

"You're right." Volpe said.

"I know where Francesco will be and when. But…"

"What is it?"

"I overheard something…they have weapons enough for a battalion. Even the Pope has given support!"

I rolled my eyes.

"Typical of Sixtus, but…what the hell are they planning?"

I put my hand on Ezio's shoulder.

"I couldn't understand the specifics. But it involves the Medici. And it begins tomorrow morning, at the Duomo."

My eyes went wide.

"The Medici will all be there for Sunday service…Along with the rest of Firenze."

"They're going to do it right in the middle of High Mass!" I said.

Volpe nodded.

"But it's also a chance for Isabel and I to blend with the crowd, get close, and stop this madness."

"If they succeed…If we lose Lorenzo, and Firenze falls to the Pazzi…"

"It won't happen!" I said.

They both looked at me.

"They took something from me, before I even knew it. I'll take their lives." I said.

Ezio took my hand and squeezed. We got up and Volpe looked at me.

"I am sorry."

I looked away and we kept walking.

Ezio's POV

I had an idea. I took her to the roof where she once slept.

"Do you remember what you told me two years ago?"

She smiled.

"Of course I do. And you took it to heart." she said.

I smiled and nodded.

"And here we are again." she said.

The moon was shining down on us and I looked at her.

"Back then I never imagined I could come to love you so much."

She turned her shining eyes to me and the wind blew her hair back. I smiled at her and we looked out over the city.

"Standing here…it's almost as if nothing happened at all. As though you and I were the way we used to be." she whispered.

"But we're not. I'm not like that anymore."

She looked at me concerned.

"Ezio, why are you talking like that?"

I sighed and turned away.

"I was terrible to you, thinking you were lesser than I was. All those things I said when we were children. I hate myself for it."

She hugged me from behind and I put my hands over hers.

"I always looked at you as a friend in those days. You were the only one apart from Federico and Claudia who even talked to me. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You're the first one who ever told me they love me."

I closed my eyes. She'd waited so long to heart those words?

"No one?" I asked quietly.

"No. I had no one who truly loved me. You're the first one to show me what love really is. All I had were books and they could only make me feel so much. I don't want to know what my life might be like if I'd never met you. I could never tell you how much I love you Ezio Auditore."

Her words made me feel warm and special.

"Now let's finish this." she said.

I nodded.

Isabel's POV

The next morning we made our way to Duomo.

"There's Lorenzo and his wife." Ezio said.

I nodded and looked around.

"And there's Giuliano, Lorenzo's brother-"

"But where is Francesco?" he said.

He looked at me.

"See if you can get closer, they don't know who you are."

I nodded and let go of his hand. Francesco stepped out before I could even move. He was going for Giuliano along with a man in red. I narrowed my eyes and ran forward. I tackled the man in red. He yanked my hair and put his knife through my leg. I screamed but I would not let it stop me.

"Giuliano! NO!"

I looked over. I'd failed to save him. Francesco was stabbing him over and over. Francesco looked at me and I glared at him. He ran past me and to Lorenzo. I kicked my attacker in the face and pulled the knife from my leg.

"Your day is done, Lorenzo! Your entire family dies by my sword!" he shouted.

I got up and Ezio came running.

"Isabel, stay close to Lorenzo!"

I nodded and got between Lorenzo and a guard. Lorenzo was wounded but still fighting. Ezio was trying to get to Francesco but there were too many guards. Once they were dead, Lorenzo looked at us.

"You…saved my life."

He dropped his sword and I grabbed him before he could fall.

"It's nothing, but the man who did this to you has to pay."

"Not now…I need help first…to my home…People I can trust there…Can you..?"

He picked up his sword and then looked at him.

"Your leg…"

"It's nothing. Ezio we have to get him home."

He nodded and we helped Lorenzo home. Ezio pounded on the door.

"Lorenzo's been wounded! Aprite la porta!" (Open the door!)

"What's the password!?"

"Poliziano! Open the maledetta porte! (Fucking door!)"

The guard opened the door.

"By the Thrice Greatest! Come in. Quickly! The city is at war! Hurry!"

I helped Lorenzo inside and he sat down. Ezio and I turned to leave but he stopped us.

"Wait!"

I looked at him.

"I am in your debt. Tell me. Why did you help me?"

"You are not the only one who lost a brother to the Pazzi. My name is Ezio Auditore, and this is Isabel Ferrari."

Ezio took my hand.

"You're Giovonni's son…Your father was a good man. He understood honor and loyalty."

I put my hand on Ezio's chest and he looked at me. Suddenly a guard came through the door.

"The Pazzi thugs are storming the Palazzo della Signoria! We can't hold them off much longer-"

"No! If they get inside, they'll murder all our supporters and put their own devils in power!"

"Then my survival will mean nothing. I have to-"

"No." they all looked at me. "I'll take care of Francesco. He had a hand in killing my mother. It's time I paid him back."

"Isabel.."

I looked at Ezio and put my hand on the side of his face.

"I have to do this. Please understand."

He sighed and kissed my palm.

"You know I do."

I smiled and put my arms around him.

"Take care of Lorenzo."

"You can't go by yourself."

"Yes I can. I need to do this on my own. Please Ezio, my love."

I knew he did not like it. He put his hands on either side of my face.

"I know you do. Just promise me you won't let him kill you. Come back to me."

I smiled and kissed him. I pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"I promise you I will."

He nodded and kissed me one more time before I walked out the door. I ran straight to the Palazzo della Signoria. Francesco was looking down at me.

"You, again!? Why aren't you dead!? Men! Slaughter her!"

I smirked and killed every guard that came near me. Francesco had climbed higher up. I wouldn't let that stop me. I kept climbing until I had him cornered. He looked at me and I took out two daggers.

"I've seen you before."

He started calling for his guards and I smirked.

"No one is left to help you." I said.

"Maledatto! Che il diavolo ti porti! Stammi lontano!" (Damn it! Damn you to hell! Get the hell away from me!)

He jumped and more guards came. I didn't care about them. I wanted Francesco. I chased him over the rooftops, but I knew where he was going before he did. I tackled him and shoved my dagger into his side.

"You have seen me before. Years ago when I was a little girl. You drove your sword through my mother's heart!" I hissed.

"YOU!?"

"You should have killed me before…." I leaned closer. "But you didn't. And Now Firenze will judge you for what you have done."

"It's over….it's all over…." he said.

His eyes slowly closed.

"Meglio essere felici in questa vita che aspirare a esserlo nella prossima. (Better to be content in this life, than aspire to it in the next.) Requiescat in Pace. (Rest in peace.)

I laid him down and I could sense Ezio behind me.

"It was well done." he said softly.

I stood up and looked at him.

"I still want him to suffer. But his soul is gone."

Ezio walked forward and looked at the body.

"I have an idea."

I looked at him and we brought the body back to the Palazzo della Signoria. Ezio took his cloths off and I heard the people below shouting for liberty. I looked at Ezio and he nodded. We hung Francesco for all to see. Jacopo looked over.

"Francesco…?"

Volpe and a few other thieves were cheering. Ezio and I stood on a nearby building and watched Jacopo ride away.

"You got your revenge." he said.

"No, not yet. When Borgio is dead, then I will have my revenge." I said.

He nodded and took my hand.

"Come, we should meet with Lorenzo."

I nodded and we left.