Assassin's Creed- Keep Me

Chapter 1- Valéntina

Roma awoke to a stream of fiery sun, violent and humid. From the pleasant smell that lingered in the air, I knew there would be rain. The dawn was pasted with crimson and vermillion, such a beautiful start to what would surely be an ugly day.

My hair sat uncomfortaby around my face and neck, so I searched for a ribbon to tie it from my face. I never looked the part, I wasn't supposed to. Be a good wife, have good children, grow old and die. My life was already planned.

"What time is it?" mumbled Lucio, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, though never opening them. Good, I hated those steely blue slits that stared at my culo, that followed the other ladies when we were in public, that scowled whenever I made a mistake. Lucio was no kind man, but he had a reasonable fortune, and that was all that mattered to my father. I was betrothed at the age of three.

"Sei e mezza." I replied, glancing at the grandfather clock pressed up against the rough brick wall. Six thirty.

"I do not believe you." he said, teasingly accusing me. I did not want to flirt, especially not with him.

"Then you shall be late to work, marito." he made a half-hearted noise, and pushed himself out of the bed. He was stark naked, so I averted my eyes and headed for the kitchen. The sight of him so bare was not pleasant. In a few moments, he emerged in his work clothes.

"I see no sign of my breakfast."

"It is on it's way, Lucio. Be patient, mio amore." Once the words had escaped my lips I regretted them.

"Are you telling me what to do, puttana?" My eyes fluttered away before he could read my expression. I tried to soften my gaze, and forced myself to look into his horrid pupils.

"Please, signore, I did not mean to offend. I will make your breakfast now." If I had less self-preservation instincts and more courage, I would have told him to make his own breakfast. But I was a weak, young and powerless woman, and I doubted that I would leave this room alive if I had done so.

"Never mind, I will be late for work if you try to make me breakfast." spiteful bastardo. I watched as he prepared for his job and slammed the door.

"Arrivederci..." I whispered, and turned to the balcony. Once I was certain he was gone, I took in hand the leather bound book on the table, and opened to my marked page. The sun kissed my skin as I read out the passage I was reading. A poem, so beautiful and fantastical I could not help but imagine the love the writer must have felt as he wrote.

It was the day the sun's ray had turned pale 

with pity for the suffering of his Maker 

when I was caught, and I put up no fight, 

my lady, for your lovely eyes had bound me.

It seemed no time to be on guard against 

Love's blows; therefore, I went my way 

secure and fearless-so, all my misfortunes 

began in midst of universal woe.

Love found me all disarmed and found the way 

was clear to reach my heart down through the eyes 

which have become the halls and doors of tears.

It seems to me it did him little honour 

to wound me with his arrow in my state 

and to you, armed, not show his bow at all.

Just as I had spoken the last word, a drop of rain splashed onto the end of my nose. My eyelids fluttered closed under the shower of rain. I felt something, something that made me want to go inside and not look down, which in any other situation I would have done, but I thought of the poem... Lucio was not my love, yet somehow I felt like someone else was close by...

A cry and a number of shouts emerged in the vicolo.

A man in white robes and a hood covering his face sprinted from the darkness into the public, who looked more bewildered than my emotions. I felt like I knew this man, though it was impossible. I had never met him before. He shoved workers and stall owner's out of his way, as half a dozen fierce men in red coats leapt from the shadows.

"EZIO AUDITORE! WE HAVE YOU NOW!" Their voices were harsh and unpleasant. Instantly I dispised them.

"Run, Ezio, run!!" I cried, and the tanned, faded man stared up at me till the last moment. I watched as he turned the corner, and realised that it has stopped raining.

Just before he ran out of my sight, he was submerged into the golden light, and blew me a kiss.

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Sorry it's so short :(

culo- arse

sei e mezza- half six

marito- husband

mio amore- my love

puttana- whore

arrivederci- goodbye

vicolo- alley