The Immigrant

Chapter 20| November 17 1798

The frosty air stung at my lungs as I walked outside. The sun was just rising from the east as it casted golden rays of light on the tops of buildings. My breath swirled around me as I took a long sigh. The streets were busy, as people were going about their Sunday morning. Church bells rang in the distance indicating for church to start. I shoved my cold fingers in the pocket of my long brown coat.
Not knowing the general direction I was heading, I found myself down at the docks...again. This place seemed like a bad omen as it brought back memories of how I got shot and my mishap with the burning of the British ship. Walking down the salty dirt roads I was met with a crowd of people waiting eagerly as they looked onwards at the white sail of a ship coming in.
"Where from?" I asked a young lady who blushed when she looked up at me.
"Italy I recall." The young lady replied.
I gave a huff of amusement as I looked at the incoming ship.
"Interesting." I murmured.
The lady looked up at me with a curious smile.
"Why do you say?" She asked.
I shrugged.
"I actually immigrated from those waters." I said thickening my accent.
The lady looked at me with curious eyes.
"I swore your accent sounded Italian." She laughed.
"Parli ogni Italiano?" My tongue rolled the familiar language, its been years since I spoke my native tongue and when I did it felt weird.
The lady paused then smiled.
"Abbastanza per andare in giro di mister." The lady responded lightly.
I gave her a smile as I watch the ship sail closer as it's white sails flapped in the cold morning air. I looked down at the bags the lady had by her side.
"I assume this ship goes back to Italia?" I asked.
The lady nodded.
"Yes sir, I'm meeting my family in Venezia during these cold months." She smiled.
I gave a quick smile as the thought of living in my home country clouded my mind. I shook my the thoughts away, I had to get back to Burr's quarters by noon.
"If you excuse me I have to be taking my leave." I murmured.
"Have a safe trip back to Venezia signora." I called as I walked away.
She gave me a small smile as she waved.
Ground fog rolled from the harbors waters. The sun rose higher into the sky as the air warmed a little. I made my way over to the market as people bustled around from shop to shop. Most vegetables and fruits perished form the cold weather so the only thing that was selling was deer, wild turkey, wild boar, cod and bread. I looked around curiously at the displays. At one booth a man was showing off his carving skills by slicing through a freshly killed dear with one swing, blood splattering onto the ground as the people around him stepped back disgustingly. I gave an amused smile as I pasted the shop.
"Oy, you there!" A man with a heavy British accent pipped up behind me.
I turned around with with a puzzled look.
"Yeah you, you look like a young man who is in need with a knife for ye belt." He hissed throwing a rather large knife on the table.
I raised a brow as I looked at the knife.
"You know the war is over sir." I sarcastically with a small grin.
The man slammed his hand on the table with a laugh.
"You can never be sure lad, hell knows what's lurking beyond our territories waiting to saluter us all in our sleep!" The mans voice gurgled with tobacco in his mouth.
I paused as I knew for sure the man was sick in the head with crazy intentions.
"Only five cents out of yer pocket boy." The man jeered.
I looked down at the shimmering knife as I sighed looking up at the man.
"Sorry sir, knifes are not on list for today." I replied.
The man gave a tempered huff as he crossed his arms leaning back on his chair.
"Suite yourself, but don't come crawling back to me when you have a arrow stuck deep in your back because there was no way of protecting yourself lad." The man said wearily.
I stepped back rolling my eyes.
"I'll keep that in mind." I replied slyly, sarcasm dripping form my voice as I walked away from the shop.
I walked up the street away form the market as I made my way back to Burr's house. I walked in. The house was quiet except for the rustling of papers in the study. I peered into the study to find Burr standing on a ladder scanning his fingers across a book he was holding.
"Looking for something sir?" I asked.
Burr looked down at me with an upset look.
"Well not exactly." Burr hissed as he climbed down the later looking me strait in the eye with an unpleased look.
I raised my brow, wondering why Burr was such in a sullen mood.
"Is everything alright?" I asked, my voice cracking under the pressure.
Burr narrowed his eyes as he took out a single sheet of paper from his desk.
"This paper was sent to me by John Adams this morning, this was a paper that I addressed to him privately and was sent down to City Hall for his reply." Burr began his voice cold as he shot me a unfriendly glance.
" You were so distracted to notice it and you sighed you name to be given to the press..."
I blinked as I felt my stomach drop with dread.
"This paper Mr.Auditore is now leaked to the whole goddamn press as they today posted it in the paper under my name!" Burr shouted slamming his hand on the table.
I swallowed hard as I felt my face growing pale.
"Sir, it must of been an accident." I said my voice shaking.
Burr shoved the paper in my hands.
"Read it! Do you realize how much humiliation I am suffering because of this!" Burr hissed.
My eyes scanned the letter but I could hardly read it my hands were shaking badly.
"You're too full of yourself Ezio, a disgrace...a fool. The son of a man who fought for the saluter of his own country that on one found him respectable!" Burr shouted.
I looked up at Burr anger burned in my eyes, he had crossed the line.
"My father was a very respectable man!" I yelled.
"Just to get himself killed in a war because of he was too confident and loud mouthed!" Burr shot back.
My hands shook as I slammed my hands on Burr's desk.
"My father did more to help his country than you could of ever do!" I screamed.
The room fell silent as my breath hissed hotly as I looked up at Burr who kept his gaze firm and clouded.
"How about you go back to Italy, Ezio Auditore I am done mentoring you." Burr said on almost a whisper.
My heart stopped as my eyes widened.
"Sir?" My voice was panicked.
"Go home!" Burr yelled.
Aaron Burr stormed out of his study leaving me alone. I took a shaky breath, angered I walked up to my room, closing the door tightly behind me. I was scared, wondering what the hell I just did. I looked over at my desk at some of my hardest works. Work I spent hours upon hours. All my strenuous work down at City Hall....
The word lingered in my head. Because of my carelessness...
Because of my carelessness I have lost the respect of my whole career that most immigrants could never accomplish.
But yet again, the nagging words of Burr's insults whispered in my ears.
I turned to the door as I opened it, walking downstairs and found myself once more on the streets. The afternoon sun seemed dim as it clung to the frosty air. I kept a brisk walk, keeping my head locked to the docks of New York City. I found my way to the transport booth that stood next to the passages ship dock. I went up to the small wooden booth as I saw a man reading a news paper, a cigar was stuck between his yellow teeth.
"Excuse me sir." I cleared my throat.
His eyes slowly looked up at me with a uninterested look.
"Yeah?" He growled.
"I was wondering when the next ship to Italy will be coming in?" I asked my voice catching in my throat as I spoke.
"Ha, sorry kid...the last ship left this morning." He laughed breaking out a puff of smoke.
My nose wrinkled as I took a short breath glaring up at the man.
"In fact..." The murmured shuffling through some papers.
"That was the last ship heading out from New York harbor this year." The man huffed.
I crossed my arms, trying to think.
"How about in the other states?" I asked.
The man gave a sigh as he rummaged through list of shipments. 
"There's uh..." He grumbled scanning his fingers down the list.
"Here we are." He smiled looking up at me.
"A ship from Charleston is leaving next Friday, I'm afraid that's your only chance." He said.
I blinked.
"Charleston South Carolina?"
The man nodded.
"Yes sir, the finest city in the south." He murmured.
I stepped back as I gave the man a slight nod.
"Thank you for your service sir." I said as I started to walk off.
"Eh." The man grumbled as he retreated his eyes back to his newspaper giving another puff of smoke.
I walked through the streets. I worrying feeling crawled through me. Was I really going to do this? Thoughts about staying behind pleaded in my head, but I shook them away.
I was sticking to my decision, Charleston.
The sun was now setting through the buildings as the cold lingered back into the air. I made my way back to Burr's house as I quickly made my way up the stairs.
My plan was to leave a midnight, so I had to pack quickly. I got out the tarnished white bag from under my bed as I started to pack all my clothes and person items. I once again filed all my papers into my folders as I stuffed them into my bag, leaving out a piece of paper. I strapped my father's pistol into my belt as I checked if it was loaded or hit. One bullet was all it had. One shot. I paused as I looked at Theodoisa's portrait. I took a long hurtful breath as I looked away from it. I tied my bag together as I placed it besides my bed. The room grew dark with the approaching night. I lit the candle that laid besides my bed. I walked slowly over to my desk as I sat down, picking up the quill as I took a staggering breath as I closed my eyes. 
Everything this country have to me, all the people I've met, all the adventures I came to face.

"By the time you read this I'll be already in my way across the ocean back to Italy. I want to reassure you that this country has fitted me well and I leave with a heavy heart. This nation served me well and the people that I have meet on these shores are the most extraordinary and brilliant. From all the hardships and suffering I've come to terms with I will live a prosperous live back in Florence as well as I can."
Con la motre cuore ma determinato heart, Ezio Auditore."