Faith - Part 1 - The Family Auditore

by tavingtonsbeauty

Esperanza was born to Rodrigo Borgia, but was always treated as a second class citizen by her family. When she runs away she is chaotically thrown into a war she does not know or understand and she is the bridge between the two worlds. Even as her family looks for her another has taken her in and she lives at peace. For now. That will, however, change. Not slash.

14. Loss and Revenge

The Family Auditore - Chapter 14 – Loss and Revenge

The next morning Isabelle woke.

Her head ached some, but she blinked and looked up into Ezio's face. He had brought her some breakfast and some tea.

She had it all with him and then they went out to see what was happening in the piazza. Ezio had heard that there was a large crowd there. He directed his sister-in-law there.

When Ezio approached the piazza with Isabelle at his side, they were shocked to see his father and brothers each bound to a noose and ready to be executed. Uberto Alberti was seen standing on the platform, along with another man beside him, the very same man Ezio had seen at Uberto's house.

Isabelle seethed and took a step forward, but Ezio took her arm. "What is it?"

"The man with Uberto, he is my father, Rodrigo Borgia."

"What?!"

"There is no time to explain. We need to get closer Ezio. Uberto is –"

Her statement was cut off as the crowd cheered as Uberto stepped forward. He hushed them by lifting a hand. He turned lifted a hand and turned to look at Giovanni and his sons. "Giovanni Auditore, you and your accomplices stand accused of the crime of treason. Have you any evidence to counter this charge?"

Giovanni struggled against the ropes. "Yes. The documents that were delivered to you last night!"

Uberto spread his hands. "I'm afraid I know nothing of these documents."

Ezio shouted from the crowd. "He's lying!" He looked at Isabelle. The girl was moving closer. "I need to get closer!" He said to himself. He moved to follow her.

"In the absence of any compelling evidence to the contrary, I am bound to pronounce you... GUILTY. You and your collaborators are hereby sentenced to death." Uberto said.

Isabelle froze and gasped looking up. Petruccio and Giovanni exchanged a look of horror. Federico looked up and saw her standing there. His eyes held pity and love. 'I love you'. He mouthed.

Tears sprung to her eyes.

Giovanni looked at Uberto. "You are a traitor, Uberto – and one of them! You may take our lives this day – but we will have yours in return! I swear! We wil–"

Uberto signaled the guard to pull the lever. The Auditore men fell through the platform as the noose around each of their necks tightened. Petruccio and Federico's necks broke and so they hung. Giovanni struggled for a few moments as though his body would not give up the fight.

There was a shriek from the crowd. Isabelle fell to her knees. "Federico! Papa!" she screamed. Those about her looked down at her. She was pregnant and most looked at her in pity to have to have witnessed such a fate of her family. She was weeping hard.

Shocked at seeing his family killed, Ezio rushed toward the gallows with a cry. "Father!"

The man standing beside Uberto whispered into his ear upon seeing Ezio, to which the Gonfaloniere pointed him out to the guards. "There! Grab the boy! He's one of them!"

The guards soon restrained Ezio. "I'll kill you for what you've done!" Ezio cried and struggled.

"The girl there. Bring her here." Uberto said. Two guards lifted Isabelle and the hooded man nodded as she was brought to him.

"Hello again, Esperanza." He greeted.

"You murderer! Coward!" She screamed at him and struggled.

"Now, now, my dear. We would not want to injure yourself." He said nodding to her belly.

She looked back at the bodies and started to weep more.

Ezio soon freed himself from the guards holding him and reached for his sword.

Uberto was surprised. "Guards! Arrest him!"

Ezio paused looking up. Isabelle was being held by Rodrigo almost like a shield before him. A great armored guard stepped forward.

Uberto nodded. "Abbattetelo!"

A Brute disarmed Ezio, the sword flung from his hand as it clattered in the platform a few feet from Isabelle, and approached for the kill, when Ezio saw a thief and a courtesan in the crowd, the same people he had spoken to before.

The thief looked at him. "You'd better run, boy. And fast!"

Isabelle met Ezio's gaze and then with a hard kick, she brought her foot down on her father's. He yelped and she moved and grabbed the sword standing at the end of the platform watching as Rodrigo and Uberto approached her.

"Careful my dear. That is not a toy. You could hurt yourself." Uberto said.

"My Papa taught me several things, Gonfaloniere, one was that women who did not know how to use weapons could still die by them." She smiled grimly as Uberto came to close and she slashed at his face with a flick of her sword cut near is neck. He hissed.

She looked and saw Ezio running and the guards chasing him.

ZzZ

The thief looked at the girl who was standing sword ready as she looked at the great well-armed guard. The courtesan smiled and stepped between them shifting to show her thigh. The brute smiled and reached for her, forgetting his aim. The thief then grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her into the crowd.

"After her!" Rodrigo barked to the other guards.

Uberto looked to his master. "Why is the girl important? According to the papers she is Lorenzo's cousin. She will be well protected here."

"She is my daughter." Rodrigo hissed. "Send for Lorenzo. Perhaps he can ferret her out for us." He said watching the thief move around a corner and out of sight.

One thing was for certain, his daughter had made some friends. He had not expected her to marry into the Auditore clan or have Lorenzo forge papers for her. That would make it difficult to prove that he was her father, she was illegitimate, and that he had a claim to her. The girl's Basque blood was troublesome.

The thief, whose name was Jacob, was busy shepherding the girl along. It was hard enough for her to move, but the grief was taking over and her adrenaline was leaving her body.

After rounding three corners she paused and took a breath. She sat down on a bench and began to cry. Jacob looked at her. "We really should continue." He said.

She held herself and shook her head. Her husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law were all dead and all because her father had ordered their deaths.

Is she had not hated him before, she hated him now.

Jacob sighed. She would be hard to move. Pregnant women were always so interesting to deal with. His own wife was always lazy while she carried his brats. This girl was not lazy, but she did not seem to understand the danger she was in.

A body slipped beside her. "Are you Isabelle Auditore?" A thin man asked.

She looked up and wiped her eyes. He was in brown and yellow and had a cowl pulled down over his face. His face was thin, but his eyes were dark, quick, and clever. He was some ten years older than she was, but he offered a hand.

"I am." She said, not sure why she instantly trusted those eyes. She took the hand.

He nodded and took her down alleys where they would not easily be seen. He made it to the Duomo and then directed her to the brothel where Paola, friend of the thieves and Giovanni Auditore, lived. She had been weeping the whole time and held her swollen belly.

The man turned to her and lifted a finger under her chin. "Be safe, little one." He said and kissed her cheek.

Paola took her in hand and took her to her private rooms for tea. The poor girl could not speak as she wept over the loss of her husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law. She had her drink some chamomile tea and the girl soon slept, exhausted.

Paola reported to Claudia, whom she had not allowed to leave the third floor, that the girl was safe with Paola as well. The only thing the girl had managed to answer was that her name was Isabelle Auditore. Paola knew she was Giovanni's daughter-in-law as well as Lorenzo's cousin. That made the girl a powerful ally, but also a problem as she heard rumors people were looking for her.

Paola remembered the girl from when she had been initiated into the order of assassins; however, the girl seemed not to recognize her. Not that it surprised the Madame any. The girl was so in mourning it was likely she barely could see anyone through her tears.

With luck Annette, who was on the streets, would find Ezio and bring him safely to the brothel as well. Then what remained of the Auditore would be safe from harm. She had great deal of pull having many of the elite as frequent customers of the brothel.

ZzZ

Annette gasped and came forward seeing Ezio. "Ser Ezio, thank God! I've been looking everywhere for you."

"I... I couldn't stop them Annetta. I tried, I swear! But there were so many guards..."

"Please. Come with me. We need to get you off the streets."

"What of my mother and sister?"

"They're safe. I'll bring you to them."

"Isabelle?"

"She is safe also. The thieves brought her to my sister earlier. Come."

"No! It's too dangerous for us to travel together. Tell me where to go and I'll meet you there."

"My sister's house, just north of the Duomo."

"I'm on my way."

Ezio carefully made his way to La Rosa Colta. The building was beautiful with frescos on it. He looked and saw Annette at his elbow. They stepped in and Ezio looked about. There were several women there, all in the clothing of courtesans.

Ezio blinked. "I think we have the wrong building..."

"No, no. This is it." Annette assured.

A woman approached Ezio from behind a curtain. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Messer Ezio..." She smiled. "Annette speaks quite highly of you. I can see why."

"I appreciate the kind words Madonna...?" Ezio bowed.

"Ti prego, call me Paola."

"Thank you for offering your home to my family, Paola."

"It was the least I could do. You must be tired. Perhaps you'd li–"

Ezio cut Paola off. "No, grazie. I can't stay."

"Why? Where are you going?"

"To kill Uberto Alberti."

"I understand your desire for vengeance, but the Gonfaloniere is a powerful man. You're not a killer, Ezio–"

Ezio waved his hand. "Spare me the lecture."

"–But I can make you one."

Ezio turned fully to her again. "And why are you going to teach me how to kill?"

"I'm not. I'm going to teach you how to survive." Paola nodded to him. "Come."

Ezio followed her to a bed on the third floor. She had taken him to see Isabelle who embraced him and sobbed into his clothing.

"You mustn't tell Momma or Claudia yet, Belle." He took her by the shoulders. "I am going to avenge them. Can you stay here until I come for you? I do not want to worry for you."

She nodded. "With Rodrigo looking for me as well, it would be best to stay put." She agreed.

He nodded and kissed her cheek. His hand went to her belly. The babies moved, but seemed to be doing less so as though they too were pensive.

He went to his own bed and tried to sleep, though he did not sleep much.

ZzZ

The next day, Ezio followed Paola to the back of the building.

Paola looked at him. "Discretion is a paramount in my profession. We must walk the streets freely: seen, but unseen. You too must learn to blend like us and become one with the city's crowds. My girls will show you how..." She nodded to him to follow her. She was impressed how well he moved among crowds with the girls. Ezio followed Paola's instructions. To test him, they took a walk around the brothel. Ezio kept moving from one group to the next, confusing any guard who might have seen him.

They returned to the brothel. Above, Isabelle was watching. Ezio waved to her and she dipped her head and walked back in to the room

Paola nodded up at her. "She is deeply in mourning as you are. Her body is already affected by the child she carries. Be gentle with her, Ezio."

"I will." He promised.

Paola turned to him. "Bene! Now that you've learned to blend. I'll show you how you can use it for more than just moving around. Let's teach you how to steal."

Ezio listened to her instructions and then moved about stealing from the girls about him.

A courtesan gasped as he passed. "Thief! Thief!"

Paola chided. "Once you've stolen from someone Ezio, You mustn't linger."

Another reached for her purse and she cried, "Help! Somebody stop him!"

Paola then told Ezio to go into the street. He stole coins from several people before returning. No one followed him home, though he heard one angry shout from a man nearby looking for his coins.

Paola nodded her approval. "You can go now, girls."

One girl looked at Ezio. "Do we have to?"

Another one touched his cheek. "So innocent..."

A third smiled. "He's cute..."

Paola smiled as the girls left. "Now that you've learned how to approach the enemy, we need to find you a suitable weapon."

"What would you have me use?"

"Ah, but you already have the answer..." Paola produced Giovanni Auditore's broken Hidden Blade she had taken from Ezio.

"Hey! My father's blade and bracer... How did you get them?" He looked at his pouch stunned. How had she…?

"By using the same skills I've just taught you."

"It's not exactly in working condition."

"I assume you are familiar with Leonardo da Vinci?"

"Sì. But how does a painter factor into this?"

"He's far more than that. Bring him the pieces. You'll see."

Ezio turned to go, but paused. "Before I go, one last question – if I may?"

Paola turned back. "Of course."

"Why have you given your aid so readily to me, a stranger?"

Paola sighed. "I too know betrayal." Paola pulled up her sleeve to show a scar on her forearm, the result of being tortured.

He swallowed and nodded. He had seen the scars on his sister-in-law's back and now this. He shook his head. Women should not suffer so. She turned to leave him and he moved to go.

ZzZ

Ezio knocked on Leonardo's workshop door.

The door opened to reveal Leonardo. "Oh! Ezio Auditore! I... I didn't expect to see you again. What with all that's happened... Ah! Where are my manners! Welcome back! Now, how can I be of service?"

"I was hoping you could repair something of mine."

"Of course! Come! This way."

He led Ezio to a table, which he cleared roughly. "Ah, che pasticcio... Tutto il santo giorno che cerco... Let me clear a space. All right, let's see it!"

Ezio handed him the broken blade and bracer.

Leonardo looked at it. "Fascinating... I don't know, Ezio. Despite its age, the construction is rather advanced. I've never seen anything quite like it. I'm afraid, there's not much I can do without the original plans. Mi dispiace."

Ezio reached out to take the blade, when Leonardo noticed the old parchment.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Leonardo stopped him. Leonardo unraveled the page.

"What are you doing?" Ezio asked reaching for it, but Leonardo put up a hand.

"The contents of this page are encrypted! But if my theory is correct... Based on these sketches it may very well..."

"It may very well what?"

"Please, sit!"

Ezio looked exasperated. "Leonardo?"

Leonardo hushed him as he looked at the page. "Shhhh!"

Obediently, Ezio sat on a chair while Leonardo decoded the page. "Remarkable! If we transpose the letters and then select every third..."

Leonardo's voice became almost soothing and Ezio fell asleep.

After some time, Leonardo woke Ezio and showed him the repaired bracer. "There. It's finished!"

Ezio woke and blinked. "Hmm? What's finished?"

"The blade! I managed to decode that parchment of yours. It showed me exactly what to do."

Ezio reached for the bracer, but Leonardo held it away. He then picked up a butcher's knife. "Now all that's left is to remove your ring finger."

Ezio was skeptical. "Really?"

"I'm sorry, but this is how it must be done. The blade is designed to ensure the commitment of whoever wields it."

"Bene. Do it quickly."

Ezio placed his finger on the table, but jumped as Leonardo brought down the knife, only hitting the wood next to his hand. Ezio looked up at him startled and then irritated.

"I was only having fun, Ezio! Though the blade once required a sacrifice, it's been modified. You can keep your finger."

Ezio slipped the bracer onto his arm, and a blade hidden within it slid out.

"Incredible..."

"Yes it is! Tell me: Do you have other pages like this?"

"I'm sorry, only the one."

"Listen, if you ever do happen across another one of these, please bring it to me."

"You have my word. And thank you for fixing this. It–"

They were interrupted by a loud banging on the door. "By order of the Florentine guard: Open this door!"

Leonardo called back, "Eh, just a moment." Leonardo turned to Ezio. "Wait here!" He said urgently.

Leonardo left Ezio behind to answer the door.

"Are you Leonardo da Vinci?"

"Sì. How may I be of service?"

"I need you to answer some questions."

"Certainly."

The guard led Leonardo to the courtyard beside his workshop.

"What seems to be the trouble?"

"A witness claims to have seen you consorting with an enemy of the city."

Leonardo feigned surprise and anger. "What? Me? Consorting? Preposterous!"

The guard looked at him. "When was the last time you saw or spoke with Ezio Auditore?"

Leonardo blinked. "Who?"

"Non fare il finto tonto. We know you were close with the family. Hmm."

He threw Leonardo to the ground and kicked him several times. "Perhaps this will help to clear your head? Ready to talk? What about now? Tell me what I want to know and we will end this. Had enough yet?" He punctuated each sentence with a kick.

It had been a while and Ezio went to investigate. He saw Leonardo being beaten and came to his aid. What better time to test the new blade. It came from its sheath and slide along the man's jugular. He was dead before he hit the pavement.

Ezio helped Leonardo to his feet.

"Grazie, (Thank you,) Ezio!"

"Sorry about that." He looked down.

"Eh, I've grown accustomed to their abuses."

"What of the body?" Nodded to the guard.

"Bring it inside and put it with the others."

Ezio was startled. "Others?"

"The city gives them to me. For research."

Ezio nodded. Ezio carried the dead guard into Leonardo's workshop and placed it in a corner.

"See? Like it never happened!" Leonardo said putting a sheet over the man.

"Thank you, Leonardo – for everything."

"Any time! And remember, if you find more of those strange pages, bring them to me. Should they contain new designs, I will upgrade your blade as well!"

"Of course. Now I really should be getting back to Paola..."

Porgile i miei omaggi!" Leonardo smiled.

ZzZ

Ezio made it back to the brothel. Paola was in with Isabelle who was nibbling at a piece of bread. Ezio went to her and kissed her brow. "Where are Claudia and Mother?"

"Upstairs." Isabelle said.

He nodded.

"You were gone for quite a while." Paola said. She watched Isabelle go to sip her tea.

"Leonardo likes to talk."

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

Ezio showed her the repaired blade.

"Impressive." Paola nodded.

"I'm rather fond of it myself."

"I've given you the skills, Leonardo's given you the blade. All the 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."

"Watch over my mother, Isabelle, and sister while I'm away."

"Of course, Ezio. As if they were my own."

Ezio waited on a nearby rooftop for Uberto to arrive. After a while Uberto arrived, accompanied by Lorenzo de' Medici. Ezio waited not wanting to harm his father's friend without proof of his betrayal as well. Plus he was the cousin of Isabelle.

The pair were speaking and Ezio listened as he followed them in the crowd.

Uberto asked exasperated. "Again with this?"

"You have overstepped your bounds, Uberto." Lorenzo said.

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

"I've done no such thing." Lorenzo said looking affronted.

"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?"

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

Ezio slowly made his way with the crowd to the location of the unveiling. There, he saw the guests of the party congratulating Uberto on the execution of the Auditore family.

A man greeted Uberto. "Good evening Gonfaloniere."

Uberto smiled. "To you as well. I trust you're enjoying yourselves?"

"Indeed! A nice distraction from that nasty business with the Auditore family."

"And to think I once thought of Giovanni as a brother..."

"Don't blame yourself! How could you have known what evils he planned?"

Woman near him spoke up. "I say we strike that traitor's name from the record books. Let history forget he ever even existed."

"Hmmm. Yes, I should look into that. If you'll excuse me for a moment..."

Two women walked towards Uberto, to talk with him;

The first, an older woman smiled. "Uberto! A moment of your time?"

Uberto smiled and bowed. "Anything for you, Beatrice."

Beatrice laughed. "So! Tell us! How does it feel to be a hero?"

"Please, I am no such thing. As Gonfaloniere it is my duty to ensure that the city of Firenze remains a shining beacon of justice. Corruption and its ilk shall find no purchase here so long as I am in control."

"You are a treasure, Uberto! I hope Lorenzo recognizes that!"

"Yes... our great leader, Lorenzo. I'll see you ladies later."

Three more guests walked towards him.

A man in banker robes looked at Uberto. "Ah, Uberto! There you are. I was just telling the other about the execution..."

The second spoke. "I mean no offense, but... what if they did not act alone?"

Uberto answered calmly. "You can rest easy, friends. I am confident that this treachery began and ended with the Auditore family."

The third man blinked. "What of the other son? Ezio, was it?" He paused. "And were there not a woman, a daughter, and another girl. I remember she is a De' Medici. Does the corruption go to Lorenzo's family?"

Uberto smiled. "The third son poses no danger. Soft hands and an even softer head. He'll be caught and executed before the week is out." He then smiled. "As for the women, they are hardly a threat to the affairs of men. The De' Medici girl was blinded by love. I hope to bring her safely to my home for protection. She carries a child and I know things have been difficult. She will be shunned when she should not be. The innocent always pay for the sins of those about them."

The second man said. "Too true. Invite her for tea with my wife. She will see the girl in brought back into society."

Uberto bowed. "I will tell her those kind words. She deserves kindness."

The first guest bowed. "Don't let us keep you, Uberto. We just wanted to say hello."

A couple walked toward Uberto as he looked at a painting.

The woman bowed. "Evening to you, Gonfaloniere."

Uberto returned the gesture. "Is everything to your satisfaction?"

"Do you even need to ask? Of course!"

The husband looked at Uberto and offered a hand. "Accept our thanks - for this evening - and for helping to keep Firenze safe. I always had my doubts about the Auditore. Where did the family even come from? To gain such wealth and ... and prestige in... in a single generation?"

The woman nodded. "And the children - with their odd names. Always making trouble." She looked at Uberto. "And the poor De' Medici girl trapped with them. I hope Lorenzo finds her a new home. Poor thing in the den of thieves."

The husband agreed. "No surprise, given the company their father kept; whores and thieves, I swear it!"

Uberto nodded. "Indeed. It is clear now he sought to undermine the city - to overturn all we've worked so hard to build. As for the girl. When found we will see she is well looked after."

The wife smiled. "Tell her she is welcome at our home if she needs a place to stay."

"That is kind." Uberto said. "I am sure the city will be safer when those who took her are caught. It will not be long now. However, the Auditore business was an interesting affair."

The husband sighed. "But thanks to you, that's over now."

Unable to listen to any more insults about his family, Ezio moved in for the kill. Uberto noticed him.

Uberto gasped. "You...Guards arrest him!"

Before the guards could hear Uberto, Ezio stabbed him in his chest five times with the hidden blade. Uberto dropped gasping as Ezio knelt near him.

"You would have done the same. To save the ones you love." Uberto said with blood on his lips.

"Yes, I would. And I have." Ezio said.

Ezio took what was in Uberto's pouch including coins and a letter. He laid the man back and looked about, blood covered and angry.

"The Auditore are not dead. I'm still here. ME! Ezio! Ezio Auditore!" He said beating his chest looking at those around him.

The people gathered there shouted in fear. "Assassino!" Several cried.

Ezio took to the rooftops and moved quickly away. The guards could not follow.

He was now a wanted man, but he was victorious.

Now he had to keep his family safe.