Assassin's Creed- Keep Me

Chapter 4- Valéntina

Ezio stormed through the streets, fuming over the encounter with the men in red. They had a name, but it escaped my memory. I was about a meters distance from Ezio, Niccolò behind me. He had a slightly more lax attitude to the situation though he still seemed a serious man.

When we had left the blood stained garden square, he had introduced himself, and apologised for what I had witnessed and his companion's behaviour. I was frightened that Ezio might hear and become more aggravated, though if he did he showed no sign of it. Niccolò did not ask for my name, though I told him it anyway, and he gave me a firm handshake. After that there wasn't much more to discuss.

Ezio's hood was till up, and even Niccolò wore a black cloak to cover his features, so I did the same, and let my hair fall around my face. The rain had stopped long ago so the air had returned hot and choking. The sun had seared all the moisture off the cobble stones of the streets, and the soil was returning to it's crisp, bleak beige. I wasn't completely sure where Ezio was leading us, but I put my faith in him. It was time he talked to me though.

"Ezio?" I asked, sprinting up to him. When he didn't answer, I gripped his arm and stopped him in his tracks. "You are angry, I know the feeling. But you cannot let those cazzi distract you from your duty. Be clever in your revenge." I could only just see his eyes under the shade of his hood, not quite locking on mine. After a few seconds he looked down at his feet. His tense muscles relaxed, and I softened my grip on his bicep.

"I am sorry, singora. My actions were unnecessary. I underestimated you. I thought my brother was the only one that could persuade me..." He gave a forlorn smile.

"Where is your brother?"

Ezio opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Niccolò. "I apologise for interrupting but we really must leave." He glanced over at a cluster of men in red, and fear suddenly rose in my stomach. A cart covered by flaps of animal skin rumbled past, and in one swift move Ezio dissapeared inside. His tanned hand reached out for mine, which I accepted, and was swung up into the cart which from the inside was about as big as a large crate, and just as comfortable. Niccolò clambered up of his own accord.

"Whoever is in the back there needs to pay to ride." said a gruff voice, loud and clear. "I don't take any straggler's on this carrello."

"And what exactly do you carry on this, carrello?" asked Niccolò. That got me thinking, I had not noticed it was empty.

"People." said the man, as blatant as any man could be. My two accomplices sighed in unison, and both handed the man a few coins. More than he deserved.

Eventually we saw his face. It was common and tan. He had dark hair that finished at his jaw line, and he had a full beard. "That's a pretty signora you have there." said the man, with a hungry look in his eye. Ezio beckoned me to his side as Niccolò answered the man.

"She is not for sale, and we paid her share." he was a little sharp, causing the man's expression to turn sour. Even next to Ezio I did not feel safe in the back of the man's vehicle, but it could not be helped. I found myself pressed hard into the side of the cart, my eyes alive with fear.

"Very well then, I won't touch the puttana." Once he'd turned back to his horse I sank down, my lips trembling and tears stinging my eyes. I remembered what it was like to be violated... To have my dignity robbed of me. That had been Lucio's doing.

I whispered to myself for comfort. "I am Valéntina Carliendo di Roma, I am my mother's daughter, I am my ancestors descendant, and I will kill him." Ezio had heard.

"Who will you kill?"

"My rapist marito." I had sparked the anger inside Ezio again, but I watched his face soften again. He pulled down his hood, and took me in an embrace. Niccolò ignored us and scratched at the wooden floor with a large splinter.

Ezio pressed his lips to the top of my head. "Oh, Valéntina..." he whispered as and rested my head on his lap. I suddenly felt very worn and tired. I turned on my side to face his knees and let my heavy eyelids fall closed. His deft fingers pulled some hair behind my ear, traced my jaw line, stroked my cheek, and repeated as I dreamed a sweet dream of a boy that saved me...

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Suddenly this seems a little cheesy... Fuck it, we all need some fluff.

cazzi- dicks

carrello- cart

puttana- whore

marito- husband