Chapter 7

"Signore e signori! Welcome to carnivale!" a resounding voice bellowed. The streets exploded with life. Gaudy and glittering costumes bounded and sported their brilliant masks as they danced to the tunes of spritely music. Lovely woman fanned their faces and flaunted glamorous smiles to feeble drunken men. Laughter and singing overflowed from the animated madhouse as explosions of colorful light illuminated overhead. Alcina slightly tightened her grip on Ezio's arm when she noticed sketched wanted posters depicting the image of a hooded figure that hung from every wall. A handful of guards slouching against a nearby levee quickly noticed them approaching and shuffled amongst themselves in suspicion. In a nearly inaudible pitch, her escort whistled and gestured two fingers to a cluster of nearby courtesans. They smiled gorgeous devilish grins as they approached the guards, humming seductively and fluttering their lashes. In their distraction Ezio calmly turned to face the lovely woman and ran a delicate finger down her cheek. In an instant, he swept her away into the cluster of dancing figures.

"All part of the disguise," he smiled coolly.

"Of course," she raised an intrigued eye brow. The music grew almost hypnotic as they twirled together surrounded by the smell of burning gunpowder and wine. His dark brown eyes began to smolder her from underneath his seductive mask as he slightly smirked. With a quick motion he flew her into a charming spin. He twirled his partner in an abrupt fluid motion and quickly returned her to his arms. She smiled wildly in surprise, "Ser Ezio... I did not expect dancing to be one of your many talents," she teased nearly breathless in her sudden astonishment.

His smirk remained, "just one of my many hobbies." He flashed a brilliant smile and slid his hand further down the small of her back. She accepted his unspoken challenge as she quickened her steps, her long alluring legs enslaving his gaze. The divine power of the mysterious masks filled them with new passion, new confidence... no inhibitions. He once again spun her sharply and switched her to his other hand. She mirrored his performance as she turned every-which-way and beamed cocky smiles in his direction. He extended his arm to her as she spiraled into him, then all at once seductively pressed herself against his body, holding a nimble hand against his smooth face. She teased him further by running a finger over his lower lip sending chills crawling across his skin. "She's good... very good," he fancied in his mind. Their eyes locked in an intoxicating trance. A kaleidoscope of colors radiated across her skin as Ezio's eyes wandered over every inviting feature; her seductive smile, long sensual legs, her short teasing skirt, long lean frame, beautiful large brown eyes, her gorgeous welcoming lips. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, he was plummeting through the air again. It took them both several moments to grasp that they had both stopped dancing, simply fixing their gaze on one another. His hand reached up and caressed her delicate hand that still lay resting against his cheek. He slowly guided it to his chest as his other hand tilted her face toward his. He closed his eyes and could feel himself breathing in her scent as the world around him melted away. His lips throbbed to embrace hers until she unexpectedly stiffened in his arms. She breathed a chilling gasp, "It's him...". Her words brought him back to reality like the shattering of glass.

A group of men began to gather on a suspended balcony, clamoring to themselves and crudely hollering to a few young women below them. Two men however seemed uninterested in the spectacle surrounding them. The taller one stood with arms folded completely un amused, while the shorter man eyed the drunken masses beneath his feet. They began to raise secretive hands to their mouths and whisper to one another. "Take me closer," she whispered in Ezio's ear, "I need to hear what they are saying." He gracefully stepping into the flow of the dancing crowd directing the two of them toward the terrace. She became more and more eager as their words gradually became audible. Her eyes scrutinized the haunting faces looming overhead, this was the instant she had been thirsting for. Ezio gently pressed her into the wall beneath the balcony as they listened intently to the muttering above.

"These festivities... they sicken me."

(sigh) "Si, an utter waste of time."

"I am to meet with Rodrigo this evening after the carnivale. We sail at once to recover the artifact."

" Eccellente my Lord. I wish you safe travels."

"And what shall you do in my absence?"

"There is a seat at the tavern awaiting me, might I have your leave?"

" Non me ne frega un cazz."

" grazie tante my Lord."

"May the Father of understanding guide you."

"And you."

The short, grisly, commodore retreated into the building as the Patriach smugly remained on the veranda waving away a few trifling contessas.

Alcina placed a hand against Ezio's chest and softly applied pressure, "I'm going after Uso," she whispered. Ezio however, did not move. He held her against the wall and grazed his cheek against hers. She fought back burning chills as he breathed against the right side of her neck and embraced her left side with the other. His seductive movements were such sweet torture as the warmth of his body molded against hers. Her heart beat quickened as the hand positioned on her side smoothly traveled up to her face as he gently brushed his thumb against her cheek. Her vision became clouded as she swore she felt his lips caress her collar bone briefly. Even his scent became overpowering as he effortlessly collected her in his arms, sensually whispering in her ear, " mia cara... mi hai incantato," and slowly dipped her in a courtly plunge, arching her back gracefully. She gazed up at the marvelously handsome masked assassin, taking in his eyes shrouded in intense passion as the sky around him burned in an array of colors. For the first time her heart clutched emotion that wasn't bitter or agonizing, for the first time, she felt love. The assassin brought his wrist to her neck. Her eyes went straight to the hidden blade that just barely grazed her throat. Her heart raced at the thought that he was holding her fragile life in his hands... for in one quick movement, he could easily slit her tender throat and end her. She closed her eyes as her pulse pounded in her head, remaining helpless in his grasp. She waited for the click of the blade as her breathing quickened with ecstasy. Her heart jumped in her chest as she felt him gently touch the contours of her neck with his gloved fingers. She fought to restrain a sigh from escaping her trembling lips. He delicately returned her to his arms and released her from his hold, her head still spinning. "Go then, find him, and meet me on the bridge just north of here. I am to meet with Leonardo there, then you and I will go together." He reached for her hand and kissed her knuckles delicately, his eyes never leaving hers. "Be careful mia tesora. Dai un nuovo senso alla mia vita, " he smiled against her hand, "I believe you owe me another dance". He slowly let her fingers slip away from his as she gave one last breathless expression before turning to stalk her prey.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Ezio approached the bridge just outside of the carinvale piazza. The loud sounds of the festival continued to echo through the streets as the bright lights mirrored across the water. He searched the rooftops on the horizon in hopes of seeing his hooded enchantress stalking in the moonlight but was interrupted by a friendly voice, "Enjoying the festivities Ezio?"

"Si Leonardo, I do not have much time. What was it you wanted to discuss?"

"I have news, I hear Cristina Vespucci is in Venezia for carnivale. Weren't the two of you close?"

...

translations

- Eccellente- excellent

- Non me ne frega un cazz- I don't give a shit

- grazie tante- many thanks

- Mi hai incantata cara- you have enchanted me darling

- Dai un nuovo senso alla mia vita- you give new meaning to my life