Chapter 26

Alcina knotted her hair into a messy clump on the top of her head and slipped out of her stolen clothes, discarding them at her feet. She flitted across the cold stone floor to the large, bronze tub waiting for her in the corner. She stretched her leg over the side and dipped her toes into the steaming bathwater before succumbing to the soothing depths, sinking into the it's invigorating pull. A shiver of delight rippled through her as her pores soaked in the blissful warmth. It had been ages since she was able to enjoy such a luxury. She curled her knees to her chest as she slumped lower into the tub until the water level rose just below her eyes. The steam caressed her face, unknotting the stiffness straining her body, washing away the grime of battle and nightmares.

She finally dunked her head into the bathwater, feeling her hair float around her, pretending for a brief moment that she was some kind of a river nymph, thriving below the waves. There she remained just below the surface, hiding in her own little world, ignoring the panting of her lungs until she could not resist her body's need for air. She reluctantly breached the surface with a jerk of her neck, splattering a small tidal wave across the floor. Oh well, she could clean it up later. She craned her neck backward, resting it against the arched tub and sucking in a peaceful breath.

"Should I return later?" Alcina jump, erupting a loud slosh of water in the tub. How long had Maria been there? "Please excuse me. I knocked, but you were..." Alcina's face burned in embarrassment as she curled her knees to her chest. Maria shifted the subject, "I thought you may be in need of some garments for the party." She gestured to an elegant dress draped across her canopy bed, clearly made for a woman of wealthy status.

"It's beautiful signora," she accepted the gesture. The churning feeling returned to her gut as she felt her words and actions were being judged. She drifted awkwardly in the water, eyeing the room for a towel of some kind. As if her thoughts had been spoken aloud, a chamber maid knocked and entered, nodding respectfully to Maria, her arms full of drying cloths.

"You may leave Roberta. We can manage," she warmly dismissed the servant, taking a towel from her arms. The maid bowed her head before exiting, her timid expression did little to soothe Alcina's nervous jitters. Maria approached the tub, extending the towel in her arms. She raised her eyes the way someone might coax a frightened animal out of hiding, signally for Alcina to step from the tub and into the warm cloth. She nearly jumped at Maria's touch as she traced her finger over the forgotten stitches across her shoulder. "Ran into some trouble?"

"It was nothing," she curled the fabric around her torso.

"You sound like my son," Maria's lips quirked into another 'all knowing' expression and withdrew a pair of sewing scissors from the dresser. The lady assassin tucked the dampening towel to her chin as a small puddle of water began to gather at her feet and drip noiselessly from her hair. "I'm not going to bite you child," Maria said plainly, tilting her head toward the nearby chair.

She flustered into the chair, slipping the towel down her back as Maria snipped away the tiny knots of thread protruding from her shoulder. Her face twitched at the sound of the petite snips coming from behind her as the twine tugged from her healed skin. "Good as new." Maria brushed away the loosen scraps.

"Grazie signora," Alcina muttered gratefully, watching Ezio's mother in the reflection of the mirror before her.

Maria affectionately untangled the tips of her damp hair in her fingers, "You look like him you know." Alcina's eyes snapped to her wise gaze, baffled. "Your father. I can see him in your face." Of the many conversations shared relating to her family, this one was the one that touched her the most. She simply nodded thankfully as she fought to look cheerful, silently grinding her teeth in grief.

A few moments of pained silence slipped away before she muttered grievously. "I miss him..." she swallowed, trying to sound 'matter of fact'.

Maria's face softened with sympathy, understanding her pain all too well, having lost a husband and two sons in the same instant. She rested her hands on Alcina's shoulders as a loving gesture while a silent tear dripped to her lap. "He was a good man. There was no one my husband trusted more." Alcina began to feel a maternal comfort emitting from Maria as she untangled the curls of her damp hair.

"Grazie signora... it helps when I'm reminded of the good things he did in his life. To know that... it was well spent..." she fought wave after wave of grief, keeping her composure intact.

"Did Mario tell you the history of our families?"

"Si madonna, he was kind enough to share with me."

"We are stronger when we are together Alcina. All of us," her regal disposition shining through her wise voice. "There is something within us, in our blood that draws our families to one another." She tilted her head in a clever expression. "Do not think I have not noticed the way my son looks at you." Alcina's face contorted into another embarrassed expression as her cheeks grew visibly warm. "As my husband trusted your father, I see the same confidence in my son's eyes when he looks at you."

"Trust..." the word seemed to reverberate. "A mutual trust..." Alcina whispered, sinking into thoughts of Ezio. She had begun to realize how much more there was to him. Behind that obnoxiously confident smile, the nearly constant pestering, and always smoldering eyes... there was a selfless man destined to do great things. A man whom she owed her life to time and time again. Memories of their journey mashed themselves to the back of her brain as she gladly relived every moment. Could Maria be right? She always felt 'pulled' to him, every smile making her melt even more than the last. Every shared touch both shocked and warmed her to her core, starting with the first moment they met on the rooftops. But perhaps it wasn't just Ezio, but his entire family, even the brotherhood of assassins who welcomed her in the moonlight. She felt at peace in their presence, as if she had found herself part of a long lost home.

A sudden jolt of panic pained her chest as she found her breathing had grown rapid and short. She was falling in far too deep, everything about this whispered danger and heartache. She felt the sudden urge to run, to escape from the fear that suddenly gripped her heart, leaving her speechless and numb. This was how people got hurt, how she always got hurt. She couldn't afford to get any closer to any of them for fear they would just be taken away like everything else in her life. The death of her family was traumatic beyond words, but she survived and limped on ever since. Watching Donato freely choose to live the life of a Templar was another heart wrenching blow from which she would most likely never recover. The loss of anyone else close to her would be a death strike... especially Ezio. She could not live with herself if she lost him, in whatever way that entailed, especially with the knowledge that it would be her own fault. She choked at the thought as she rearranged the words in her head, suddenly certain of one thing... she could not live without Ezio. But she knew she would have to try.

"Would you like me to stay and help you dress?" Mario offered sweetly. Alcina opened her mouth to speak, but was unable to form the simplest of words. She quickly nodded instead, curling her fingers into the now cold cloth sticking to her frigid frame.

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

The villa came to life as the sun sank dismally into the earth, lighting the streets with colored lanterns as the villagers feasted and drank to their hearts content. The townspeople rejoiced in the festival though unaware of the underlining reason behind the celebration. The echo of joyful laughter and conversation began to drawl into a drunken collaboration as the night progressed.

"Ezio! Ezio come!" Ezio rolled his eyes at his uncle's pleas, his words louder than usual, obviously slurred by the wine. "Where is our other guest of honor?" he pulled Ezio beneath his arm.

"I was wondering the same thing Uncle. I have not seen her all night," his keen eyes scanned the crowd, searching for her familiar face. Amongst the masses of smiling and hollering crowds, his favorite auburn blaze was nowhere to be seen.

Worry clouded his thoughts, paranoid by her mysterious disappearance. A ravine creased between his eyes as he began to sense something was very wrong. He proceeded to search the manor, but found every room empty. He silently roamed the intertwining streets of the town, passing by the occasional pair of clinging lovers kissing passionately in the shadows. As he found himself retracing his steps, his thoughts whirled rampantly through various scenarios ranging from her being kidnapped by thieves to her having fallen into a hole in the earth somewhere unattainable. Although neither of those were likely, he followed his first instinct. Alcina had run away again. Despite his feet wanting to sprint, he forced himself to take normal paced steps to the city gate, as he eyed the ground for any kind of clues she may have left behind.

The familiar smell of hay and hoofed animals wafted through the air as he approached the stables. He mentally counted each horse, all of which were accounted for. "Looking for something?" the voice he had been searching for charmed his ears and washed him in a sudden wave of relief.

After tilting his head at an angle, he managed to see two legs protruding from beneath a familiar chocolate mare. "What are you doing out here?" his tone humored but baffled.

"Just thinking." He patted the horse gently on the neck as he drew closer to the voice.

"You came out to the stables to think?" the young horse nudged him with her nose, searching his pockets for a free snack. He laughed aloud as the large muzzle pried at his closed hands. He scratched behind her enormous ears, apologizing for being unprepared. Alcina ignored his question, only staring at the mud on her boots. He could not help but forge a questioning look toward her ensemble; her elegant rose colored dress nonchalantly hiked to her knees atop her famous black riding pants and muddied leather boots while her hair rested neatly in an organized bun similar to a style he had seen his sister flaunt. His lips twisted into a smile at the half and half spectacle; her top section resembling an exquisite young woman of Florence, finely dressed for a party of wealthy aristocrats, while her lower section remained the rogue female assassin he knew and craved so much. She sat atop a few bundles of hay in the far corner of the stable, peeling apart the golden straws.

"Did you enjoy the party?"

"Si, although I do not think I'm feeling very sociable tonight."

He grunted into a sitting position beside her, sinking softly into the fresh bale of hay. "Would you talk to me then?" he pressed. She only shrugged indifferently as he pried, "Then you would not mind telling what is wrong?"

"I would actually." she huffed. He pursed his lips at her irritated tone.

Silence crept between them as Ezio spoke his mind, "I thought you left again."

"I was going to," she admitted.

Although paining him, he found he wasn't surprised by her answer. "What stopped you?"

She finally smiled, "I forgot that I did not know how to ride that damn horse. I wouldn't have made it a mile before breaking my neck or getting lost."

They laughed together at her expense before he finally spoke, "Why now?"

"Because I am a coward and I don't want my cursed life to plague yours," she thought. "I don't know. I don't do well with staying in one place." She justified her answer as not being a lie, just not the entire truth.

"That I can understand," Ezio sighed. His next comment however, she did not expect, "Let's go together."

Her face swiftly became stunned, "Now?"

"Si, but just for tonight. We can escape from everyone else and from whatever is worrying us. Have our own adventure."

"Where would we go?" she looked baffled.

He smiled at the night sky, "I have an idea or two." He rose to his feet and offered her a hand.

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

They rode together into the darkness upon Ezio's silver mare, their bodies forming to the shape of one another as they squeezed together on the saddle. The four galloping hooves thundered across the silent earth, kicking up dirt behind them. The flickering stars spanned forever in the darkness as the moon cooled the ground in a pale blue glow. Alcina closed her eyes, breathing in the smell of the country side as the wind rushed over her face. Normally she would have been terrified to be galloping at full speed, but felt strangely safe in Ezio's company. The familiar scent of the assassin clouded her senses as she fit perfectly against the contours of his frame. The streaming sound of water grew louder in the distance as they neared the familiar river they had passed that afternoon.

She opened her eyes and gasped at the sight of the perfect crescent moon floating in the water, "It's beautiful out here." The silver horse paced in the grass, it's nostrils flaring before relaxing to gaze in the open field. She slipped down from the mare and nearly stumbled as her feet hit the ground.

"Where are you going?" he laughed at her excitement.

"For a swim!" she called back.

"Sei pazza? It's freezing!"

"Come now Ezio, where is that fearless killer?" her voice trailed off as she charged toward the river.

"Pazza..." he huffed stubbornly until movement drew his gaze. His eyes squinted at the loose objects floating to the ground, strangely resembling clothing as her silhouette dove into the darkness. He heedfully eyed the area before muttering to himself, "Perhaps a swim would be nice..." He dismounted from the saddle allowing his horse to graze in peace. His boot steps treaded through the tall grass, kicking a few pebbles across the earth, anxiously following in the direction his mischievous companion had ventured. His heart skipped frantically as a familiar treasure rested at his feet. He stopped to pick up the rosy dress in his hands, crinkling it within his fingers. "Merda," he cleared his throat.

A crystal wave splashed out of the corner of his eye as her smiling face bobbed above the water, "Coming in?"

"Why don't you join me up here where it's dry? I have something that belongs to you," he grinned

"I thought we were running away to live a life of adventure," she teased.

"Indeed we shall, although swimming in a freezing river was not the kind of adventure I had in mind."

"It's only cold for a moment. I promise," she treaded.

Ezio sighed in defeat, gazing in every direction once more to make sure they were alone. He rolled his eyes before peeling off his shirt and boots, almost losing his footing while shedding the hunk of leather from his foot. He had never seen her grin so large as he trustingly dove into the black river.

He hated himself the moment his body plunged into the depths; his mind processing the frigid cold, sending wave upon wave of chills through his frame. He gulped in a startled breath at the surface, scowling at Alcina's laughter. "Figlio di una cagna!" he gasped and spit chilled water from his mouth. "I will never forgive you for this," he muttered to her through chattering teeth.

"It is not that bad," she mocked. His shivering finally subsided after a few moments of continued chatter as his body grew accustomed to the temperature change. "Better?" she knowingly smiled when his gasping subsided.

He grinned mischievously, remembering her discarded clothes. "Not quite. Perhaps you could come help warm me." She shook her head with a smile before gliding in his direction, stopping short before reaching him. He shook his head playfully, splattering water in her face before slicking back his drenched hair with his hands. He looked up to the glittering stars above, taking in the vastness of the sky, "Were you serious when you said you almost left?"

Her chin bobbed across the surface of the water as she gracefully treaded in place, "I wanted to. But I could not bring myself to do it."

"Meaning you could not figure out how to put on the saddle?" he flicked water in her direction.

"No!" She splashed a small tidal wave in his face. "It doesn't matter why. The point is I chose not to leave, so there is no need to discuss it."

"You may not have left this time, but I know you will eventually."

She swallowed the bitterness of his statement, having deserved the sting, "You assume too much. Do you think you know me that well?" she scoffed.

"Yes I do," he said bluntly, he eyes staring through her as transparently as ever. "There is something you are not telling me. Do not think I have not sensed it."

Her playful smirk hardened. She had been caught. "Does it matter?" she muttered to the water. He shot her a grave expression, answering her question without words. Her stomach began to do flips as she struggled for words. "The vault the Templars are after can only be opened through the blood of the protector... my blood. So me being here puts everyone in danger. It's better that I put as much distance between us as possible. But I can't bring myself to leave you because I think I am in love with you. All this shouldn't be so hard to say... but it is," she thought. Her mouth grew numb and her words ran dry, making it impossible to share her thoughts. It would be so much easier if he knew... but how do you begin to tell someone that your whole purpose in life was to die? "Before we met, I lived my life alone. I wanted nothing, nor did I need anything. It was easier that way," her routine emotionless defense covered for her lack of honesty.

"But was it right?" Ezio interjected.

"Sometimes being safe is better than being right," she looked up at his protective face from the shimmering current, his eyes and hair looking raven black in the darkness. Although cowardly, leaving was the only way to save him... that was all she had to give.

His fingers found hers in the river and tenderly pulled her into his arms, holding them both afloat. His warm breath heated her skin as he caressed her cheek with his own. "You do not have to leave to be safe," he whispered in her ear feeling somewhat hypocritical. It seemed they understood one another more than he had anticipated, as he had been battling with the same fears.

It was in that moment that he realized he suddenly wasn't afraid anymore. His previous worries seemed almost ridiculous. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the only time he had truly felt any sort of fear or turmoil was when they were apart... which only left him with one option. "Alcina," he breathed. "I swear on my life that I will not let anything harm you."

She shook her head sadly, "It's not me I am worried about." She hid her face into his shoulder as she held the back of his head in her hands, accepting his embrace.

"You are worried about me?" he sounded almost amused. "Amorosa I think you know by now that I can handle myself."

She laughed into his neck briefly. "What about Mario or your mother, and the rest of the brotherhood?"

He took her face in his hands as if addressing a small child, his thumb grazing her cheek. "We are all assassins. They know the dangers, and accepted them as part of their lives. You will not be the end of them Alcina... or of anyone." He bit down on his lower lip momentarily before continuing, "Leonardo told me about the prophecy... the part about you." Her muscles tightened in his hands. She had been caught again. She recognized the familiar glisten of honesty in his eyes as he whispered to her, "I will not let them hurt you Alcina... prophecy or not, I will not let anyone harm you."

She shuddered briefly against his body as the weight of the world lifted from her shoulders, her demons rendered powerless from the whispering of his lips. She let herself go limp in his arms as she melted against his body, holding him closer, uncertain if the drips across her face were tears or kisses from the river.

"I think we're being watched," Ezio chuckled.

She raised her eyes in confusion as the giant silver silhouette of their horse stared silently from the river's edge, stomping a hoof in impatience. Her large eyes blinked solemnly at them, signaling she was ready to return to her warm stable. The swimming bodies laughed in the water, surrounded by a blanket of reflective stars. "After you madonna," he gestured to the shore. "Do not worry, I will not watch. Unless you allow me to," he grinned.

"Ragazzo stupido," she splashed him in the face before scampering to the shore. It was moments like this that Ezio hated being a gentleman.

.-.-.-.-.-.

"Your mother will be furious that I ruined her hard work," Alcina unknotted the waterlogged hairstyle from her head, shivering inside her riding pants and corset.

"It appears we have other dissatisfied company to worry about," Ezio pointed to the man in charge of the stables, searching the empty slot for his missing silver mare. His loud banter and wobbly limp suggested drunkenness as he wandered aimlessly with a dim lantern.

Ezio leapt from the saddle and quietly directed the horse into it's warm shelter, snatching Alcina quickly and pulling her down to his level. He grinned to himself and playful hushed her giggling.

"You! Stop! Where have you been with that horse? Do not run from me!" the horseman slurred, but the pair had already fled into the city walls, dodging the swinging yellow glow of his lantern. They grinned mischievously like two troublemaking children, laughing and hushing one another. Ezio guided her through the maze of streets, flying by villagers making their way home from the party, their sloshing footsteps only igniting another wave of laughter. He pulled her into a darkened alley, hiding them in the shadows. She covered her mouth to keep from snickering as the glow of the drunken lantern swung by their hiding place and turned back in defeat.

She cursed herself between her laughing breaths, "I forgot your mother's dress! She's going to-" her words were cut off by Ezio's warm mouth that had begun to devour hers while his hands found her waist. Her fingers knotted in his still damp hair, no longer afraid to hold back. The staggering high her mind ascended to stupefied her more than any drug known to man as she forgot where her body started and his began while his lips hungrily tasted hers.

A freezing shudder quaked through her muscles making Ezio stop abruptly. "Let's get you inside," at least that's what she thought he had said. Her mind seemed to be miles away.

She finally regained cognition as they reached the mansion as a rush of warmth flooded from it's doors. Ezio guided her through the halls, his fingers intertwined with hers. They nodded a hello to the perplexed servants as they tracked puddles of water through the home, giggling flirtatiously at the dumbfounded looks they received. They passed the familiar paintings hanging from the halls, signaling the arrival to her chamber.

Alcina smiled proudly at the memory of their last episode in her doorway, having shut down the arrogant ladies man. She now found herself in a similar position, resting against the door as he took both of her hands. "This is where we part signora," he repeated his charming line. She smiled shyly like a little girl being wooed, giving in to his appeal. "May you only dream of beautiful things," his handsome smile lowering to her knuckles, kissing them softly. He waited for her to respond as he found the idea of leaving her almost painful. Yet another moment where he hated being a gentleman.

His goodnight and farewell was silenced as she pulled his face to hers for another long and dizzying kiss. He sighed into her mouth when he realized her grip refused to weaken from his face. She abruptly parted, laughing at his disappointed expression. His mouth upturned to a grin before diving into her lips yet again, obsessed with their intensity.

She smiled through his lips as she tried to pull away from him, his reluctance sparking another wave of laughter. He kissed her forehead sweetly before being swept away into her brown eyes. He leaned in one last time to meet her lips surprised by her sudden vigor. They kissed roughly for a few minutes as he fumbled with the handle of the door, nearly toppling her into the room. She grabbed him by the collar to support herself as a few more clumsy giggles and smiles were exchanged between their lips as she pulled him into her bedroom while he kicked the door closed behind them.

...

translations:

Sei pazza- are you crazy?

Pazza- crazy

Merda- shit

Figlio di una cagna- son of a bitch

Amorosa- love