Chapter 17

Dawn was just barely beginning to break the horizon, painting the water a glowing variety of colors and billowing clouds. A few stars remained dusted across the sky, resisting to be overtaken by the morning sun. Below the canvas of the heavens, the floating city began to awaken as the assassins begged for a miracle, praying that they might escape from the insurmountable fortress.

"If we go down this hall there is a window around the corner. Below it is a scaffold that will lead us around the Eastern wing where we can drop down into the piazza. The only way off this island is to cross the main bridge. It will be risky to cross without being seen, but not impossible. That is our only chance, other than swimming across the channel. Can you make it?" Ezio analyzed their surroundings.

"Si. The guards will be searching the waterways as well as the courtyards. That would leave the halls open for us to travel through."

"Perfect. I will go first and signal to you when it is clear." Ezio squeezed Alcina's hand briefly then let it slip away from his fingers before darting down the dark hall. The first few beams of low light began to flood from the windows, stealing their shadowy cover. She flattened herself against the open door of the Patriarch's room, peering through the doorway at Ezio's fleeting figure. His silent footsteps briskly dashing toward to foyer. A guard marched silently back and forth at the end of the hall, completely unaware of the soundless predator approaching. Ezio sprang from his feet, snatching the patrolman and sinking a hidden blade into his windpipe, silencing him before his screams even left his lips. The stab reached his spinal cord, instantly paralyzing him and spraying a squirting fountain of blood. Ezio cautiously cradled the dead body and rested it onto the floor without a sound. He looked up beneath his ominous hood toward Alcina and gestured for her to follow.

Alcina's thoughts continued to tangle into a mess of doubt and worry. A small dose of hope in her soul did not believe that all was lost for her brother, his actions however spoke otherwise. But why had he refused his master? Although he did not remember him, he was still her father's son, stubborn, wise, and pure. Perhaps he could still be reasoned with.

"You fools... you do not understand... you cannot rewrite what has already been written..." a ghastly voice crept from the blood spotted floor. "You think you have won... but this has only begun..."

"Even on the edge of death, your empty threats and words of nonsense continue," she sneered.

"Nonsense? No... not nonsense... truth," Rodolfo's voice cracked and wheezed.

Alcina glared bitterly at the pathetic body sprawled across the floor, choking on his own blood and saliva. "Every word from your disgusting mouth has been a lie."

"Lies... no, not lies. The prophecy is real... I have seen the power of the apple with my own eyes. There is nothing you can do that can take it from me... it is written." his gargled laugher infuriated her, deepening her furious glare. She gazed momentarily at Ezio crouched silently at the end of the corridor, patiently waiting for her to join him. He stared back in bewilderment until she vanished from the doorway, creeping deeper into the room. Something had caught her attention.

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

The Patriarch smiled a wicked grin from the floor, babbling words she did not care to listen to. The only sound she could hear was the audible pounding of her heartbeat in her ears. Her fingers twitching for her fathers blade at her hip. One strike, that's all she needed; not much longer now. Her acute senses escalated with each rapid breath. This was the moment she had been yearning for, the bite she had been starving to taste. Her hand clasped around the elaborate knife, savoring an intense "hum" that travel through her system as she clutched the handle tightly. The sensation ignited a fire in her blood, her body becoming the weapon. She hungrily stalked to her fallen enemy, laughing loudly to himself. The once handsome face transformed into a repulsive grimace, charred and cauterized across his left cheek. The pronounced, bloody, cross branded into his flesh. The gore was enough to make one's stomach turn violently, as the unnatural smile gave rise to frightening chills. She took a knee beside his fallen body, taking in every detail of his melted and blistered face.

"You have stolen everything from me... all I have left is my vengeance, and I take it now. I saved you for last, so you always knew what was coming for you."

Blood bubbled from the corners of his mouth as his sinister and bloodshot eyes blazed, "You cannot kill me signora..." his voice raspy and harsh.

"Yes I can," she looked down at her victim one last time and plunged the pulsating dagger into his chest. She could feel every sensation, the slicing open of his skin, the puncturing of his lungs, the sudden rise and fall of his heart beating. Rodolfo Salvatore's eyes grew large as he gasped and choked on his last breath, struggling to fight her off his chest that had begun to erupt with blood. Alcina's eyes began to water and haze, feeling her body suddenly become weak. The quiet hum erupted into a screaming pulse, pounded in her skull. Electricity surged through her system, filling her mind with images and words she did not understand. She pulled away with all her strength but the dagger did not budge from his body, her fingers fastened to the handle. She tried to scream but her voice was useless, she had grown far too weak, too blind. The blinding golden glow radiated brighter as the blend of screaming voices began to unhinge her mind. At last the flashing lights cleared and the voices silenced as her body collapsed to the floor beside the fresh corpse.

The booming hum ceased, leaving her head throbbing in anxiety. Moments passed as her eyes scanned the ceiling above her, but sight was beyond her comprehension. Her heart raced, terrified she had been blinded. She reached to wipe the sweat from her face, but to her terror, her muscles did not respond. Something had happened, something terrible. Tears began to flow down her cheeks as she fought for control over her body, fighting against the dizziness. After several long seconds, the blinding glow clouding her vision began to mold into shapes and eventually transform into colors. The details of her world forged around her, until everything was back to normal. Her tingling limbs began to twitch and come back to life. She groaned loudly as she sat up, holding her face in her hands. Surely her mind had been playing tricks on her... but, then again... Could he have been right? Did Rodolfo truly have some sort of prophetic powers? What had he done to her? She cringed at the thought. She glanced beside her at the lifeless body, her father's blade still protruding from his sunken chest. A warm ray of light peered in through the window, reflecting brilliantly from the weapon's handle. The welcoming morning reminded her of her waiting companion. She hesitantly wrapped her fingers around the shimmering hilt, startled by a sudden shock that greeted her grasp. The blade slipped from the body with ease, exhaling a sigh of bliss. Now was not the time to be focusing on fantasies and stories, her enemy was dead and Ezio was waiting.