Disclaimer: I do not own Assassin's Creed.
As I hushed Ezio, I realized I was trying to make myself feel better too. I missed my family so much. But, right now, that didn't matter. Right now, I should be focused on Ezio. "I'm here…" I continued to coo. Ezio still squeezed me, and I felt my shoulder become wet.
I pulled him away from me to look him straight in the eyes. I wiped away the small tears that had formed under his saddened eyes. "You have to be strong, Ezio. Your mother and sister need you," I told him. "But know that I will be there if you ever need someone to vent to. Io sono la vostra spalla su cui piangere (I am your shoulder to cry on)." Of course I realized that I had only met him a few days ago, but it felt as though I've known him forever.
Ezio smiled down at me. "Grazie, Melina." With that, he led me out of the alley and into the streets, where we continued to stalk around, hiding in plain sight from any guard. When we walked into a street, I recognized Anetta running towards us.
"Ser Ezio, thank God! I've been looking everywhere for you," she said.
"I… I couldn't stop them, Anetta. I tried, I swear! But there were so many guards…" Ezio cried.
"Please, come with me. We need to get you off the streets," she pleaded.
"What of my mother and sister?" Ezio asked.
"They're safe. I'll bring you to them."
"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 am on my way." But Ezio pulled me by the arm to her. "Please, take Melina with you. Be sure to stay out of trouble.
"As you wish," Anetta stated as she led me along. Sparing one last glance at Ezio, I followed her.
"Anetta…" I mumbled.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you." To be honest, I didn't know what I was going to say in the first place. Perhaps I just needed comfort, knowing someone was there. As if for extra comfort, I reached into my dress pulling out my locket and opening it. I gazed longingly at the picture inside, wanting desperately to have my parents and sister alongside me. I let one silent tear fall before I wiped it away.
"Who's this?" a woman in way-too-flashy clothing asked. 'A prostitute,' I told myself.
"New girl?" another prostitute asked.
Before I could open my mouth to stutter out random nothings, Ezio walked into the brothel. I gave him the "thank god you showed up" look. He spared a small glance at me, before turning back to Anetta. "I think we have the wrong building…" he mumbled.
"No, no. This is it," Anetta stated.
Just then a tall woman walked up to Ezio. I watched in awe as she sashayed in so gracefully. Ezio, of course, eyed her cleavage before she said, "It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance Messer Ezio. I am Paola." After that, I tuned them out, only catching bits and pieces of Ezio's vengeance lingered. Perhaps I should've listened. I rather wished I did when Paola led Ezio into the courtyard.
I took one last gander at the place, dodging random men's hungry eyes, before I scurried off to find Claudia. It took me a while, I even ended up outside once where I saw Ezio pick-pocketing from so poor old man. For a bit, I wandered around. But as it got darker, I went back into that odd building.
"Claudia!" I cried as I ran up to her, enveloping her in a hug.
"Melina! There you are! I thought… well I don't know what I thought. But it was something along the lines of you disappearing. Where's Ezio?" she asked, rambling off a bit.
"He's with Paola. They're doing something in the courtyard," I told her.
"Ah, I see. Alright. But… uh… where's father….and my brothers?" She looked around my shoulder. My eyes widened. She didn't know. What was I supposed to tell her? Yeah, they're dead. I couldn't. Thank God for Ezio. Although, he had that weird mechanism on his wrist.
"A-ah… I must go!" I cried as I followed him out. He didn't know I was following him, actually. But I was curious as to where he was going. I had a bad feeling.
He wandered the streets for a while, before finally running up the wall of some large courtyard-ish building. I kindly asked the guards to let me past, claiming I was part of whatever event was obviously occurring there. They faltered before agreeing, which had me worried. They were on the guard for something… or someone.
I found Ezio sauntering up towards Uberto himself. 'Oh no…' I went to stop him, but Uberto had already spotted him. "You…" he muttered, utter fear evident in his voice. Ezio stabbed Uberto numerous times in the chest. Making the crowd gasp, myself included, and scream. Uberto lay dead within seconds.
Ezio stood from Uberto's body, screaming, "The Auditore's are not dead! I'm still here! ME! Ezio! Ezio Auditore!" And like that, the guards were on him. He ran far, too fast for me to know where he was going. All I knew was that I had to get back to Paola's before he did.
I ran like a madwoman through the streets of Firenze, something I've been doing quite often. When I reached the brothel, I slammed the door shut behind me, eyeing my surroundings for Ezio. He wasn't there yet. The time spent waiting for his return was spent mostly on catching my breath. I left my mind to wander, though. I had just witnessed Ezio murder somebody. And that somebody was the murderer of his family.
This Chapter was quite boring, but necessary. I just can't wait to get the ball rolling :D
Review please!
