Warning: May contain spoilers for The Assassin's Creed Series.
Hello my dear readers! ^_^ Its summer break for me and I hope that you enjoy my stories! I love you all! Um there's this courtesan assassin I will be making part of the story now since I found her so interesting I did my best to research so I do not know if she is killed or not and other things about her life I couldn't find out about...Please enjoy.
-Normal P.O.V
"Target captured." Butch cheered out loud with a daring smirk. Buttercup gasped when he landed onto the horse and she hesitated wondering if she should turn her head to look behind her. But her thoughts were on her child as well. She was nearly close to screaming in frustration when she spotted a haystack up ahead. She got the horse to hurry making Butch temporarily lose part of his balance and edge closer then she jumped into the pile of hay. Buttercup released a small whimper of pain when her foot slammed into the big rock near the hay. "What the hell?" He shouted and turned around the horse quickly.
Buttercup got up realizing she had sprained her ankle. "God...This is not good." She saw the others catching up and threw her last smoke bomb. "I have to ignore the pain for now." She murmured and ran ignoring the misery her maimed leg was in. She had forgotten about Butch for the minute and tried dodging the eye of guards. Then she bumped into someone she thought she would never see.
-Buttercup's P.O.V
"Fiora Cavazza." I whispered. I noticed Fiora stiffened and quickly turned around shaking. We looked straight into each others eyes with slight surprise. I took note that she was wearing her courtesan's dress. In her left hand there is a letter, it seems important. I must ask her later.
"Buttercup Usuelli." Yes, I remember now...my true last name is Usuelli...I met Fiora when we were young. Fiora was a courtesan at the age of fourteen. Like she said she is fine wine served in a low-class tavern. We met when I was ten. I would see her time to time over the years and we would go out for awhile to talk of our lives whenever we weren't busy. It had been a year since I last saw her.
"Buttercup it is great to see you again. Let's go dine at my house! Wait, but first we need to get you a change of clothes. And it is already night...Come! You shall be staying at my place." Fiora looked at my armor, her eyes widened for a mere second then she smiled. Ah she forgot for a moment that I work for the assassins, she knows that my cover would be ruined if I were to be discovered in these clothes at her home. She gave me a hug sighing a breath of relief. Something was wrong.
-Fiorra Cavazza's house-Three days later
"Thank you for taking me to the shops, I really needed to restock on things. And for letting me stay here..." Here I am in her house with a dress. We came here as she prepared for us a delicious meal. She hadn't been here for the past few days due to her line of work.
"Buttercup what has happened since the last time we saw each other?" She questioned me. I looked at her with hesitation.
I smiled back at her and tried to pick up the conversation, "Well Fiora, you already know about me working with the assassins and I already know about you working for that bastard Cesare. I need some questions answered once more." Her face hardened with a glare. That was a strange thing about us, we worked for sides against each other, and can still be very close.
"Ragazza. (Stupid.) You are lucky that you are my dear friend. You know that I would've killed you by now if you weren't." She ran to her window and closed it, then she sat down and continued, "I am to deliver a letter to Malfotto. Cesare says he is a doctor. But I know better. He is a predator of women. A monster. He slaughters courtesans." Fiora growled out putting her mid-back long hair to the side. I knew that I could only ask certain questions because if she leaked out too much Cesare would find out and kill her. It was risky for both of us.
"That's why you were wearing your old dress earlier." I mumbled out. "You were using yourself as bait to lure him out and deliver the letter." That's why she is afraid. She told me that she has heard that his kills were brutal. I grabbed my fork and stabbed it into a piece of food. It was already dinner time.
"I'm glad it was you that came instead of him. My first attempt was a failure so Cesare told me to try out my dress for the second attempt." She whispered."So come on, tell me what has happened in your life so far especially since I've been here without having the time to talk to you so far."
"Well, lets see Villa Auditore and it's city was destroyed. I've forgotten parts of my memory. I have people chasing after me and I'm pregnant." I rushed out into a quick sentence hoping that she didn't hear about my pregnancy.
"Well, it is a good thing you remember me, no?" She asked with a laugh trying to lighten the mood. Usually Fiora was a cold and cruel woman to others, but she said that I for some unknown reason make her feel happy, that I seemed interesting to hang out with. "Who's the father?"
Shit. I should've known she was going to ask this question. After a few moments of silence to think of a plan to avoid what she had asked I gave up. I needed someone to talk of my worries to. And Fiora is one of my close friends. Sighing I began to answer her. "Unfortunately I don't even remember who the father is. One of Cesare's bastards shot an arrow through my chest and I don't know what happened, all I remember was screaming for someone just before that. When I had awoken all I knew was my name, two young girls in some memories who were or are my sisters, and few others. My memory has several blanks and it hurts like hell whenever I remember some things." I mumbled out. She looked at me with sympathy and smiled.
"Time for bed. You and the 'child' will need all the sleep you can get." She whispered. I nodded and went to the guest room.
~Next Day~
"I looks like you need a haircut. Come sit over here and I shall cut it for you mid-back." Here we are eating breakfast in the morning. I quirked an eyebrow up at her for the sudden sentence.
"Can't you just cut most of it-"
"No. " She sternly announced, "Cesare and the others think you are dead. You have an advantage by changing your look." Fiora remarked. I thought about it. It was true. They wouldn't know what was coming to them.
Her hands grabbed a pair of scissors and began to gently chop off locks of my hair. When my hair was finished being styled she went into her room and brought a change of clothes. It was and outfit like hers except it was green. Fiora had even brought another fan that was exactly like her's. She forced me to change into it and looked triumphed when I came out of the room.
Her lips curved into a smile making grow slightly suspicious. She led me towards a mirror causing me to gasp. I looked different. My hair had it natural flip as always except it was just longer. The outfit suited me quite well. I loved it along with the deadly fan.
I was about to thank her when we heard a scream. We both climbed out of her window towards the source of the shrieks. I heard her cries of mercy, but then she was silenced. I ran with my friend, ignoring the pain in my foot, through several alleyways.
We made one finally last turn and saw a woman. A courtesan to be exact. She was dead, blood was splattered everywhere near her and it was a brutal death for her. Her brown eyes searched everywhere frantically as I got into a fighting stance. I saw a doctor walking towards us and noticed Fiora stiffen once more.
"Buttercup that man is Malfatto!" Her voice was laced with a rare feeling of fear. "He slaughters courtesans." I couldn't see his face, but I felt that I was not going to be able to take him today. Then I noticed Fiora was still wearing the courtesan dress. This was not good. I could just feel him maliciously smiling under that mask. He quickly ran towards us with weapons in his hands as we dodged.
Fiora screamed at him saying that she had a letter to deliver to him. He didn't listen or stop attacking us until she mentioned Cesare's name. Malfatto stopped with the attacks, accepting and reading the letter as he gave us a look. It made the both of us feel uneasy as we slowly backed away and ran. The pain of my sprained ankle though caught up to me and I released a small cry of pain.
"Buttercup." My friend whispered looking around as though someone would overhear our conversation. "Let me help you walk."
She hoisted me up and walked us towards her home. When we arrived she had set me up in a guest room and told me to rest along with no getting up no matter what. I nodded reluctantly and drifted off into the dreamland of conspiracies.
~Next Day~
I had been feeling terribly weak all day. This baby has been strangely taking a lot of energy out of me even though its nearly finishing three weeks. I hardly got out of bed and Fiora would drop off food to me during the meal times. When it is completely silent though, I feel like I could hear whispers. Whispers telling me of the apple that is here in Roma and such...
The door creaked open and I noticed Fiora poking her head in. She gave me a worried glance. "Buttercup, are you okay? I've seen the pregnancies of others and they usually aren't like this so soon..." I weakly nodded yes and she gave me a glass of water and a bucket. I thanked her as she left the room and emptied my insides once more.
Oh god...The whispers keep telling me to go to Cesare. Go wherever he is and find the apple...It mixed in many messages as well...with the creed.
"I am part of the assassins just like my family was. I've spent part of my life studying the arts of death with others." I mumbled out loud to no one. But it felt as though someone was listening. No, not an alive person yet, someone like my soon to be born child. I looked down at my belly. Was it strange that I thought they were listening to me?
"There are several secrets that are hidden and written in blood. And the pain of betrayals and such are deeply engraved on our skins." I managed to speak out before falling unconscious.
~Midnight~
My eyes had fluttered open as I heard a crash. I tried to get up, but felt far too weak. After a second I heard more of a scuffle and hurried to get up. Oh god. A dizzy spell had taken over for a short moment as I placed a hand on my forehead. This sensation made me feel like I was being burned alive. My body had its weight onto the door and I opened it. It led me to a scene full of blood.
I saw Fiora lying down on the floor with one of the metal fan in her pale-looking hands. Then my gaze turned to stare at the intruder. He or she wasn't there. After all the suspense was over I rushed to a bin, emptying my insides.
Sweat trickled down my brow as I sauntered over to Fiora. She looked deathly ill as well, so frail, not like her usual self. The moon had its light reflect off of something. Walking towards the glint of light I noticed a syringe near her. Then it hit me. Someone poisoned us in our sleep.
Pathetic.
I can't believe I didn't feel them inject the needle into my neck. Freaking mood swings! I fell onto my knees and slightly winced at the impact from the wooden floor. I couldn't protect her. I can't believe he or she poisoned us! I am ashamed. Ashamed of myself. Me, myself, and I. God where was help when you truly needed it?
Slowly I placed Fiora's body onto her bed while pouring some fresh water from a silver-like wine glass. The scent of rust and iron came to me as I scrunched my nose in disgust. It was a scent I was far too familiar with. Blood. I turned my attention towards the trail of blood that led to the window. Hopefully whoever they were decides to not come back.
But wait. The sloppy trail of blood may lead to the window, but it turns to the right. It looks like someone had literally tried to wipe away their tracks. It only meant one thing.
They were still in the house.
I turned around and noticed a shadow sauntering towards me. But it wasn't just any shadow. It was Malfatto. He was about to charge once more towards the two of us until I made a weak attempt to aim one of my throwing knives at him. The doctor released a small grunt of pain when it pierced part of his skin. Clutching his bleeding arm, he harshly pushed me to the side and left through the window.
Another dizzy spell came over me and I clutched onto my head. No. He will not be getting away. I will kill him if it is the last thing I do.
So with that I jumped out and began my pursuit praying that Fiora would be alright.
-Butch's P.O.V
I could not believe I allowed them to escape from my grasp again! It's been a few days since I had last seen the stranger...It was already midnight and Ezio and I were exploring the streets. We were looking for someone named Malfatto. A man who kills courtesans. So far we had already seen three dead bodies. They were all bloody.
I heard the shuffling of several feet coming our way and I prepared myself. The first one to emerge from the shadows was a doctor clutching his arm. The second one to come out was a woman with a fan. Her face was hidden by the shadows of the night.
"You bastard Malfatto!" I looked at the man in the mask. This was our guy. I nodded at Ezio signaling that I would be fine. He gave a curt nod back and left to go attend major problems away from here. The man wearing the mask, crashed into me and fell onto the floor. I brought out my hidden blade ready to stab him when he dodged me.
"What the hell?" I muttered. The woman tossed a knife hitting the man in the back. I decided that I would quickly end the fight. I aimed my wrist at him using the hidden gun as they were distracted fighting each other, while doing my best not to aim at her, and bang! The bullet pierced through his head. The woman buckled down on her knees holding her head and I carefully walked over.
"Are you alright?" She looked up at me and our eyes met. Peridot green eyes. Then I notice the color of her hair, a soft raven-black. "Buttercup..." I whispered. It was really her. She quickly stood up and backed away with her fan aimed at me.
"Listen, buddy I'm tired so I can't recognize who is who exactly so your face looks like a complete blur to me. Literally." She tried glaring at me, but it disappeared evolving into a face of drowsiness. "Thanks for your help...That bastard did something to my friend and I which involves poison. And I need to head back to where I am staying."
"Buttercup it's me Butch." It seemed to set a spark in her eyes and they widened.
"Butch..." Whispering she stood up rubbing her ankle, "I know you. I know you...you save me a years ago from those three men." She muttered. I looked at her with a curious gaze. What did she mean? "I was young and I told my sisters to go somewhere else. Then I was being brutally pushed around." It was my turn to have my eyes widened. So I known Buttercup even before she was an assassin. She was the mystery damsel that I had rescued all those years ago.
But why doesn't she remember me now? She looked up at me with a smile, "Thank you. I appreciate the help you've given me." She paled during the time when whispering a thanks to me. She quickly limped to the side of a house and began vomiting. I rushed towards her, ignoring the foul smell, and patted her back.
"Hey, hey, are you okay?" I asked once more. her head slowly nodded yes. "Idiot." I muttered to myself. She said she had been poisoned earlier and yet I stilled asked. I can't believe she still isn't willing to admit defeat though. "Let's go and get you an antidote." I quickly ran to the small well and brought a bucket of water. Buttercup accepted it and began gargling the water, getting the horrible taste out of her mouth.
"No. It isn't necessary. I know the poison he used...I-I just need water and sleep. That should be it...It's been awhile since..." She said whispering the last part while cutting off the last part.
"It's been awhile since what?" I questioned her. She looked up at me with conflicted eyes wondering if she should tell me. Awhile since Villa Auditore had been destroyed? What is on her mind?
"Since I-since I heard the news of...of my pregnancy." Buttercup replied with worry in her eyes. What was going on? Wait did that mean I'm the father? I'm a dad, wait! Merda (Shit)! I'm a dad and it had to be now of all times and what am I thinking! My child is poisoned along with Buttercup...What am I supposed to do now!
"Buttercup?" She looked back at me with a curious gaze before replying.
"Hm?" I leaned towards her, gently cupping her face, and kissed her.