The walk to the villa was not far. I had been there a few times visiting Mario. I had met his nephew, Ezio, and his niece, Claudia, on one occasion. I knew the layout and where everything was, even the chamber below where they had Altair's armor. It had been passed down through the generations. The last I had heard, Ezio had gathered the seals to open the vault and had it. I did not know if he still wore it, or it had been destroyed.
Altair followed silently behind me. I watched him look around at the buildings, or what was left of them. The people I knew, would rebuild their homes. They would stay, but the death of Mario had put fear into their hearts. It had mine. I saw him as the next one like me. I thought the Apple would claim him, but I was wrong. He was killed by a coward, who wanted nothing more than to rule the world. Or at least Italy. Thinking about it made me see red. I wanted to kill him myself.
"Where is this proof you speak of?"
Altair's voice snapped me out of my revenge. I stopped and turned to him. His hood covered his eyes, but I could tell he was scowling at me. I wanted nothing more than to punch him again, but seeing his fat lip was enough for now. "We are almost there. Be calm. I have not waited this many years to listen to your whining. It is rather irritating." I knew my words would make him mad once more, but as I said earlier, I did not care.
The scowl deepened. He clinched his fists and released them, trying to calm himself. I guess he figured I was better alive than dead. Like he could kill me. I wish it was that simple. Shaking my head, I began to walk once more. Up the stairs, past the training grounds, and to the front door. Pushing it open, I walked into the foyer. Debris littered the ground. Once works of art, torn canvases lay smashed on the floor. My heart sank at the mess before me. If there was this much damage to the foyer, what must Mario's study be like.
Stepping around the large bricks, I made my way to the room in question. It was almost non recognizable. Debris was everywhere. The wall that held the codex pages was nearly destroyed. I sighed. My spirits dropped by the second.
Sifting through the rubble, I found more pages. At least some things had survived. I took what I found and shoved them into his hands. "These are yours. Pages that you once wrote while studying the Apple. Ezio collected them from the Templars. They are better in Assassin hands than theirs."
He looked down at them. "This proves nothing. You could have brought it here with you."
Has he always been this dense? What had Maria seen in him? I guess he was good in bed. That would be his only saving grace in my book. I could not deal with him otherwise. His mouth was unreal. "You are really getting on my last nerve, Altair. I have brought you here, showed you proof that you are not in the Crusades any longer, and you throw it back in my face. Fine, I have one more thing to show you. If this does not show you something that it is 250 later, I will let you kill me."
He simply nodded. The man was maddening. Brushing past him, my skirt snagged on an exposed piece of metal and tore. It had been another of my favorites as well. It was maroon with gray undertones. It had matched my gray eyes. I blamed it on Altair and his suspicious nature. When he got some florins, he would buy me a new dress. I would see to it.
I stepped up to the bookcase and grabbed the lever. Nothing happened. Had it been damaged in the raid? I pulled harder. It would not open. Then it occurred to me. They must have sealed it in their escape. "Damn."
"Do I now have permission to kill you now, Alanna?" His cool voice grated on my nerves.
I glared at him. "At least you called me by my name. I have one more place to look. Maybe the old log is still here. Claudia kept meticulous records of dates and times. Follow me." I lead him from the destroyed room. He still held the pages I had given him. I smiled inwardly. He must believe something is not right, or he would have run me through.
The room in question was relatively untouched. It was like they had just got up and went to bed. I saw the book on the table. "Come here a moment. This will answer your questions."
He opened the log book and stared at the dates. All said the 1400's. His eyes widened and turned to me. "You planted this here to trick me. You lie." His words came out like a breath. He did not believe them himself.
I laid my hand gently on his arm. "I wish I was. I awoke to a world similar to our own, but not. Your son, the youngest, died on the day I awoke. He was the last person in your line to touch the Apple before Ezio. The Auditores are your bloodline. They have kept the Creed and honored it for many years. I am sorry, Altair. I wish none of this had happened."
He turned that eagle like gaze on me. It was the first time I had ever seen fear in his eyes. "How is this possible? How have I been asleep for so long? Why was it only us?"
"I have no answers to your questions. I only know what I have learned in my many years on the run. Come. Let's leave this house of misery, and I will tell you what I know on our way out of town. It is time we leave and go elsewhere while we still can." I pulled my hand back and left the room, with him behind me.
A million questions were running through my mind on the way back. Why was it just us? No one could answer that question. The apple had a will of its own. It was a source of great evil, but it also held many things of knowledge. I had read the pages that were in Altair's book. I know what the dreaded thing had given him. I did not know why it chose me though. I was a novice. I had not even taken the Leap of Faith yet.
My small house came into view. Picking up my pace, I walked into the foyer and straight to my room. I did not care what he did at that particular point in time. I had to change and pack. I wanted to be gone by nightfall. The road to Rome was a long one, and I was going to get there if I had to walk there.
I donned my new robes in record time. The outer robe was shorter. Mario had given them to me. He told me that mine were too old. They were but I could never bring myself to get rid of them. The new ones were black and gray. A smile graced my lips as I looked at the other package he had given to me that night as well. It was robes for Altair as well. Not as flashy as the ones I had seen Ezio wear, but we both knew it was better that way.
Leaving the small room, I found my old master staring at a painting of myself. A friend of the family, Leonardo da Vinci had done it. He was a talented man. He took one look at me and told me he had to paint me. Why I was not sure, but I had let him none the less. I was not a raving beauty. My eyes were gray, my hair was a bit wavy and brown, but the only thing I had been graced with was a generous bust. Now, they were not overly large, but bigger than most. The problem was I had an attitude to match.
"Beautiful portrait." He looked back at me.
I shrugged. "It's okay. I have seen many of Leonardo's other paintings. They are much better." I handed him the bundle of cloth. "You may want to change into something more of this time. We must be leaving soon. I shall tack the horses while you do that."
All he did was nod and walked from the room. I looked up at the portrait. It saddened me to leave it, but it was far too large to take it. One day I may be back to claim it, but not now. I looked away and moved through the house. A house I had made my home. Now, it was time to leave. I did not want to, but the curse of immortality had made it so.
The stables were not far from my house. I walked there a few moments. The horses called out their greetings. I loved coming down here and petting them. Looking for the stable hand, but finding no one, I assumed they had taken off when the raid happened. Shaking my head, I laid my coins on the table, and grabbed the reins of two horses that looked to be good runners. One was a male roan with a deep chest and long muscular legs. The second was a male black with a blaze of white down his muzzle. His was a bit shorter than the roan, but had nearly the same dimensions as his red counterpart.
Picking up the tack, I saddled both horses and lead them back to the house. Upon returning, I was greeted by Altair sitting on the small wall outside my front door. For the first time, his hood was down and he just stared off into nothing. I shook my head. He was doing the same thing I had done when I learned the truth, except the difference between us, I had no one.
"Are you ready?" I held out the reins to the roan. He turned slowly and blinked, like he was in a daze. I knew that one as well. Everything was sinking in. The lose, the realization you have nothing left. His family had been dead and dust for many, many years. The woman he married and loved was not longer there. His children were grown, had children of their own and now had joined their mother in the great unknown.
I wanted to tell him it would be okay. I wanted to erase the pained look in his amber eyes, but nothing I would say make that happen. It was something that he would have to come to terms with himself. "Come, Grand Master. It is time to leave."
He took the reins from my hand, stood and swung into the saddle. I followed suite and lead the way out of town. He rode next to me, silent as the grave. Hours passed and all I heard from him was his steady breathing. I would let him mourn. It was normal to do so. To not would make you less than human. To have no feelings for everything you have lost would be wrong.
Days flew by as our journey to the capital of the ancient Roman Empire came into view. I looked upon the horizon. A storm was approaching. We would not make it into Rome herself before it was upon us. I looked at my companion. "We must take shelter. I do not want to be caught in the approaching storm."
"A fair idea." He spoke very little to me, if nothing at all, the whole trip here.
A small village was to the east of us. I turned my mount in the direction of the nearest inn. We made it there in less than ten minutes.
After placing the horses in the local stable, Altair and I headed to the inn. Walking through the front door, I scanned the room. It was a habit ingrained into me by my other masters in Masyaf. An assassin must always be aware of their surroundings. I knew he was doing the same.
A barmaid walked up to us, smile on her face as she saw Altair. "Welcome. Are interested in a room or just a meal?"
Her words were Italian, and I knew Altair did not understand anything she just said. I would have to teach him if he wanted to survive. I addressed the woman who was dressed nearly as scantly as a courtesan. "A room would be wonderful. My brother and I have been on a long journey."
Her smile got bigger. Why did I say my brother? She would be on his tail all night. I pulled out some coins, and she led us to the room. "If you need anything just let me know." With that she walked away, swaying her hips provocatively. I just rolled my eyes and walked in the room. He followed behind me.
Once we were settled in, I turned to him. "Now is the time I told you everything I know."
I am on a roll. I have started on the next chapter and hopefully I will have it posted by this evening. Ezio will make is appearance and everything. (Squeal!) I am a fan of Altair, but I do like Ezio. Please do not tell my husband. Him and I have a standing feud over the games. HEHE! Anyway, I hope you like the latest installment of Reawakening. Oh and before I forget, I want to thank everyone who has reviewed. It really helps me keep going. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and a big pot of virtual coffee! My drink of choice.