Afterlife

part three

by Go-Go Spiders

Annetta's sister's house was a brothel.

Ezio and Federico gazed around the entrance hall of the building Annetta had brought them to, and at the skimpily-dressed courtesans lightly stepping down the stairs to greet any potential new clients. A man sitting on a lounge nearby, half-hidden behind a red velvet curtain, had a lovely young courtesan with her long blonde hair pulled up into two pointed knots straddling his lap. The man's hand slid up and down the smooth pale skin of her thigh before moving underneath the folds of her thin skirt.

"Brother, I believe I know the reason why Annetta never told us much about her older sister," said Federico.

Ezio's face turned tomato-red as he turned back towards the door. "Annetta, I think we have the wrong place..."

Annetta smiled coyly at him, Federico automatically moving out of her way as she moved to stand beside Ezio. "No, no. This is it - La Rosa Colta, my sister's house."

Ezio looked at her.

"Ser Ezio, a house of pleasure is still, in fact, a house," Annetta lightly chuckled.

Ezio met Federico's eyes, confused. Federico could read the expression on his face as easily as if he'd spoken the words he was thinking out loud: 'This is where Annetta brought Mother and Claudia?'

Federico laughed. "Annetta's very clever. Not many people would think to look for them in a place like this," he said as a beautiful courtesan walked past Ezio with a teasing smile, suggestively swaying her hips.

A dark-haired woman, older than the courtesans but no less attractive, gracefully moved from a small side parlor into the entrance hall of the brothel, pausing beside a wooden latticework screen for a moment, her face catching the early morning sunlight from a nearby window.

Federico tilted his head slightly, looking closely at her face. Was it his imagination or had her eyes flashed gold?

The woman greeted her younger sister with a kiss to both cheeks, and then turned towards Ezio, her eyes raking up and down his body appraisingly. She didn't so much as glance in Federico's direction. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Messer Ezio. Annetta speaks quite highly of you." An appreciative smile played at the corners of her lips. "I can see why."

Federico snickered. "Oh, I think she likes you, little brother."

Ezio ducked his head to hide his smile, the tips of his ears turning red. "I appreciate the kind words, Madonna...?"

The woman hastily held up a hand and shook her head. "No, there is no need for that kind of formality here. Please, call me Paola." She turned back to her sister. "Annetta, could you find something for us to drink? I imagine our guest must be thirsty."

Annetta nodded and headed for the stairs, leaving Ezio, Federico and Paola alone in the entrance hall except for the gaggle of courtesans still hanging around the brothel's entrance hall. Paola loudly clapped her hands, drawing the courtesans' attention to her. "Girls, go about your business," she called. "I will send for you when I need you."

With wistful sighs, the girls dispersed.

Paola beckoned them into the intimate parlor, draping herself against a plush red-and-gold lounge. She gestured towards a similar lounge across from her. "Have a seat, Ezio."

Ezio hesitantly sat down on the lounge. "Thank you for offering your home to my family, Paola," he said as Federico leaned against the lounge's arm. It took a surprising amount of concentration to not pass through it.

"It was no trouble at all, I assure you," said Paola. "But you must be tired after everything's that's happened. I have an empty room you're welcome to use if yo-"

Ezio vehemently shook his head, cutting her off before she could finish. "No, thank you all the same. I can't stay."

Paola quirked an eyebrow at that. "Oh? Why? Where are you going in such a hurry?" she asked as Annetta returned with two glasses of wine, setting them on the small wooden table between Ezio and Paola before leaving.

Ezio took a deep breath. "To kill Uberto Alberti," he announced.

Federico blanched in shock and turned towards his younger brother. "What, right now, Ezio? You're not prepared! If you try to go after him now, you'll only get yourself killed."

His mouth a taut line, Ezio stubbornly ignored Federico. "Alberti will die before the day is over, by my hand."

"No, Ezio. Think this through," said Federico. "The only weapons you have are either broken or you don't know how to use! There is nothing I'd like more than for Alberti to die for what he's done to us, to our family, but revenge on him does none of us any good if you die too. Do you want Claudia to lose another brother, Mother to lose her last son?"

Ezio silently glared at his older brother.

"I see." Paola picked up a glass from the table, lightly swirling the dark-red wine before she took a sip. "Perhaps you should listen more to what your mysterious yet very talkative ghost is telling you, Ezio."

There was a moment of complete silence in the parlor as both brothers stared at her. Unperturbed, she lazily swirled the wine in her glass.

"What did yo...?" Ezio began to ask, his voice trailing off.

Over the rim of her glass, Paola gave them an enigmatic, cat-like grin as her dark eyes momentarily burned gold.

"So you do have the second sight!" Federico said, pointing a finger at her. "I thought the gold in your eyes when we came in before was just a trick of the light."

Paola smirked slightly. "In my profession, it helps to know a visitor's true intentions before welcoming them into my house." She took another sip of wine before placing the glass back down on the table and turned to look at Federico. "I will admit my gift does not usually reveal spirits, however." She studied him for a moment before speaking again. "You're Giovanni's oldest son, yes? Federico Auditore?"

Federico nodded. Even without the aid of her second sight, the full force of her gaze felt piercing enough to pin him to the wall behind him.

Paola inclined her head towards him slightly. "Then, Messer Federico, it's a pleasure to meet you as well, however much I wish it was, ah, under better circumstances, shall we say?"

"Likewise, Paola."

With another smile, Paola returned her attention to the younger Auditore brother. "Ezio, I understand your desire for swift vengeance – perhaps moreso than you realize – but the Gonfaloniere is a very powerful and well-protected man. You are not a killer yet- "

Ezio crossed his arms, sinking back against the lounge. "Spare me the lecture," he said cutting her off. "I've already heard it." His eyes flicked up to his older brother.

"Then maybe you need to hear it again, little brother," chided Federico lightly.

"But I can make you one," continued Paola as if Ezio and Federico hadn't interrupted her.

Federico's eyebrows travelled up to his hairline. Paola was full of surprises, it seemed.

"Wait, you can teach me how to kill?" asked Ezio, sitting up with sudden interest.

Paola shook her head. "No, Ezio. I can teach you how to survive." She turned to look at Federico and jabbed a finger in his direction. "And you Federico, I can show how to be a better ghost."

Sorry Federico. Just 'cause you're dead doesn't mean Paola can't show you a few things too. c: