Loving an Assassin [Ezio Auditore]

[Chapter 9]

"What are you doing, Ezio? Did you...did you two- I can't believe this!" Claudia exclaims. She pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs. "I can't believe you slept with my friend!" She groans, putting the dress to the side and walking off.

"Well, that was something," he says, looking to where his sister formerly stood.

"I wonder if she heard us," I reply.

"Who cares? So, what would you like to do today?" Ezio asks, running his fingers through my shortened locks. "I can't believe you cut your hair."

"I wanted to sever the ties with my old life. The life we knew is gone, and I don't want to carry the past, it eventually weighs you down," I respond.

Ezio smiles softly and gently kisses my forehead. "My uncle Mario wants to train me. You can watch if you would like. And I can take you on a tour," he offers.

"Well, I would like to see where I'll be living. I haven't really had the chance to yet," I reply. He takes my hand and guides me through the villa.

"Shall we start the tour here?" Ezio asks.

"I would like that," I respond. He then takes me on a tour around the villa, which although its downtrodden, there is a certain charm about it. "It's beautiful. And if we fix it up, imagine how it will be," I remark.

"Uncle Mario wants me to get an architect in, that way we can start the repairs. He thinks that people will start visiting, and we'll make money off of them," Ezio replies.

"Well it's true. You could make a ton of money from it. Is that your uncle there?" I ask, pointing to the fighting ring.

"Si," he answers, walking towards the ring. I follow quietly behind him, watching the mercenaries have mock battles. They stop as I walk past, questioning each other about me. But, with a single glance, Ezio silences them.

"Ezio! And this, I must assume, is Caterina?" The man questions.

"I am," I reply.

"I am Mario, Ezio's uncle. It is an honor to meet you; I knew your parents very well."

At the mention of my parents, my stomach twists into little knots. I can still remember their blood on the floor, my father calling out to me. The memory makes me sick, and with my hand covering my mouth, I retreat to the villa.

"Cat? Caterina?" Ezio calls, following me back inside. I rest against a wall, my heart heavy, and tears threatening to pour down my face. "Come, you should lay down," he whispers, taking me into his arms and carrying me upstairs.