chapter 15
Alcina's skin crawled in the silence, awaiting the promise of excruciating burns branded across her neck. She squirmed at the thought of the Templar cross seared into her flesh, forever tainting her pride with every breath. This scar would not be one she could simply hide away or conceal; the mar bestowed from her own brother would inflict more scorn than any wound could ever create... this brand would scar her very essence.
The obedient hound gnashed it's teeth with delight, eagerly awaiting to fulfill the commands of his master. She squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lip in attempt to confine the imminent screams. Her frantic thoughts struggled desperately to think of something, anything to help drown away the forthcoming agony, but the smell of fire and metal clawed away at her bravery. She persisted, forcing herself to dream of brown eyes, and sound of the comforting smooth voice.
The glowing heat approached, breathing hot tremors across her skin, hissing fiercely... then all at once vanished, followed closely by a heavy clang across the floor. A disgusted sigh unbarred her stunned eyes, "Forgive me master... but this is an order I must refuse to obey." Donato kicked the simmering stoker away, sickened by its image. The soldier forced his gaze to the floor, too anxious to witness the look of outrage in his master's eyes.
"You will do as I command you to!" Rodolfo bellowed, his face evolving into fury. The hound tucked it's ears back, cowering at his master's disapproval. Although ashamed of his betrayal, Donato bravely persisted, silently standing firm in his defiance. Rodolfo's face turned frightening with insult, "You are weak lieutenant! I order you to strike her down! Do not force me to punish you as well!" Rodolfo hatefully scolded his timid little pet... or so he thought. The brave knight raised his once apologetic eyes from his master's feet; his senses driving him, fueling his abiding will.
"Master I have served you always, and my allegiance will forever lie with you... but there is nothing to be gained from this... there is no honor. Forgive me my Lord, I take full responsibility for my actions." Donato respectfully nodded and left the Patriarch's room, his crimson cape unfurling as he stepped away, turning his back to his master, as well as his own blood. She watched wide eyed with awe, her heart swelling in her chest. In that instant, she found herself torn in a way she had not expected. She was proud of the man her brother had become, honorable and brave... but terrified that he was lost forever, brainwashed and trapped in their world, a world she could not save him from.
"How DARE you lecture me about honor! Arrogante figlio di una cagna!" Rodolfo's steps boomed with rage, insulted and humiliated as he swiped the abandoned weapon from the floor. "Fine then, I will finish what you were too weak to end yourself! Inutile pezzo di merda!" His neck snapped in her direction as a sudden gasp escaped from her lips. Her attacker thundered toward her, raising the glowing torch with swift vengeance. Her eyes shut in response of her fear, palms balling into fists, awaiting the familiar nightmare of burning alive. A rapid rush of air breathed across her face bringing forth a familiar scent. The soft breeze briefly stole her attention, bolting open her eyes, "It couldn't be..." she searched. A tall hooded savior leapt between her and her enemy, kicking the weapon from his grasp and agilely collecting it into his own. Her angel turned sharply, punting the Patriarch in his stomach, forcing a pained grunt to escape from his throat as the air was roughly kicked out of his lungs. Rodolfo stumbled to the floor, alarmed and winded. The hooded form twined the burning stake in his fingers, creating erupting sparks that popped and seethed in his grasp as he swiftly forced his boot onto the Patriarch's throat, pinning his startled prey into the ground. He swiftly stabbed the hissing glow downward, planting the burning templar brand into the face of his stunned enemy. The sounds that erupted were nearly as unbearable as the instant smell of cooking muscle tissue and blood. The aroma made her coil and gag as Rodolfo's screams of torture erupted in her ears. The gripping hands lifted from her frame as the guards rushed to save their leader. The dark hood slew them with swift and silent blows of his sword, their dead weight collapsing to the floor in unison. Rodolfo's screaming began to drone and muffle into gasps of agony as he writhed and suffered across the floor until, at last, he fainted from his own shock.
The abrupt silence seemed to ring louder than the tortured wailing of the fallen monster. The hooded angel returned his sword to his sheath and rushed to her, slowly helping to the floor. She slightly trembled in his hands as he knelt beside her. Alcina's mind rattled, both baffled and astonished as she pieced together the images from the last few moments. It had all happened so fast, had minutes passed, or mere seconds? Time was of little importance now, he was here.
"Ezio?" her voice sounded so foreign in the sudden rush of her emotion. She gazed upon the familiar face whose image had brought her so much strength moments ago. The moment felt surreal. His brow creased in displeasure as he lifted her chin into the warm light of the fire, eyeing the bruises that had begun to blacken her battered face. He quickly began tending to the bleed wound that stained her shoulder. She winced briefly having forgotten the injury entirely.
"Are you alright?" his voice brought back the calming relief she had been praying for.
"Si, I am fine." The wound to her shoulder had bled profusely, leaving the top half of her lace sleeve soaked with red. "Thank you Ezio..." she whispered. The creases of disappointment and worry remained streaked across his face. He nodded silently as he tied a makeshift bandage. "That's twice you have saved me," she laughed softly.
"That's twice you have leapt into danger blindly," he snapped. Alcina frowned, ashamed of her recklessness, although not regretting the purpose behind it. If he only knew her actions were meant to save him, to spare him from the doomed prophecy that cursed the blood in her veins. But if she had told him the truth, she was certain he would never let her leave his sight.
"Mi dispiace, that was not my intention," she whispered bitterly.
"Do you not understand?" his irritation manifesting. "You fell right into their hands! I was nearly too late... a few more seconds and... " he shook his head in distress, not wanting to continue.
A brief glint of pain softened his eyes, forming a guilty twinge in her chest. She could feel the words tugging at her tongue, begging her to tell him of the codex message, of her fated purpose. Her heart grew heavy, overflowing with conflicting emotions. Ezio dabbed at the blood escaping down her arm, his touch still electrifying in every way. She watched his harsh expression, waiting patiently for him to speak, as he pondered over something in his head. He finished his work on her shoulder and sighed loudly, dragging an irritated hand across his face. He finally locked his dark eyes with her own, as they scanned one another.
The stern face melted into a frustrated smile, "Accidenti a te donna, you will be the death of me." He gently brushed his thumb across her cheek, being cautious of her wounds. "Do not do this to me again. I was afraid I wasn't going to make it to you in time... Do you promise me?"
"Sì. la mia parola," she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Come, I think we have overstayed our welcome," Ezio pulled Alcina to her feet, ready to catch her should she stumble.
"Ezio wait, Donato is here! I've seen him!"
"Your brother? Are you certain?"
"Sona certo."
Ezio began to guide Alcina to the door, "Show me where they are keeping him."
"Ezio you don't understand," Alcina paused in the open doorway holding him back, struck by a dark thought... what would Ezio say to the fact that her brother was a Templar Agent? Would he understand, or would Donato become just another target? And if that were the case, who would she choose... her blood, or the man closest to her heart? She felt her mouth grow dry as her heart began to tear in two.
"What is the matter?" he starred confused at her hesitant expression.
No more lying... "Ezio... Donato is a Templar. His mind is gone... Rodolfo has turned him against me, he remembers nothing..." she searched his eyes for some kind of hint, praying his actions would not force her to make the decision she was not ready to make. "Ezio please don't kill him, he doesn't know what he's doing," she pulled desperately at his arm. A faint frown turned at the corners of Ezio's mouth as he processed this new information. This would complicate things. "Please Ezio, don't kill him... please!"
"It is alright ragazza, I will not harm your brother. But if he tries to stop us from escaping... I will have no choice."
Alcina swallowed away the dry clutch in her mouth, "Capisco," she knodded bravely.
translations:
Arrogante figlio di una cagna- arrogant son of a bitch
Inutile pezzo di merda- useless piece of shit
Mi dispiace- I'm sorry
Accidenti a te donna- damn you woman
Sì. la mia parola- yes, my word
Sona certo- I am certain
Capisco- understood