Loving an Assassin [Ezio Auditore]

Loving an Assassin [Chapter 5]

I wake up in the comfort of a warm bed. My odd, skin tight clothing has been replaced by a thin nightgown. "Caterina," is whispered to me, and I look over to see Ezio. He's clad in white robes, so unusual in comparison to his normal noble attire. "Are you alright?" He asks as he takes a damp cloth to my forehead. "I-I'm cold," I admit, shivering a little. A soft red blanket is wrapped around me, instantly warming me up.

"You must be hungry. You've been out for days! I'll be back," Ezio says, dismissing himself. I lay back on the bed, sinking into the soft mattress. The room is warmly lit, with a table and several chairs. Papers litter the floor as well. In the corner is a portrait of Uberto Alberti, the Gonfaloniere of Firenze. My right eyebrow raises. Why does he have a painting of the Gonfaloniere?

When Ezio returns, it is with a bowl of ribollita and a small cup of grappa. "Ezio? Why is there a painting of Uberto Alberti in this room?" I ask, taking the bowl from him. The ribollita is better than the servants in my palazzo made! "I assassinated him," he admits nonchalantly. I spit out the soup. "What?!" "He killed my father and brothers, not to mention how he had your family killed!" Ezio responds. "How did you know?" I ask, to which he answers with "He told me when he was dying in my arms."

Looking down at my soup, I slowly stir it with my spoon. My appetite is gone now. "I'm sorry, Caterina. I don't know why your family was involved in this." Ezio reaches over and gently touches my shoulder. I look back at him with sad eyes, tears welling up in them. The tears start to come down my cheeks, and Ezio is quick to wipe them away with his hands.

I continue to cry while Ezio removes the food and places it on a table nearby. He sits down on the bed, carefully reaching over. I hug him and continue to cry. "I'm here for you," he whispers. I can only nod back and whimper.

"You should rest more. Eat, then sleep if you want. You can come downstairs if you want. But please, eat something," Ezio says, handing me the bowl of ribollita. "I'll be back to check on you later, okay?" He asks before leaving me.

I sip on the soup, my appetite still gone, but my stomach growling. 'Dead...my parents...dead.' The words keep bouncing back and forth in my head and it makes me sick. My legs ache for some type of movement and when I finish the soup, I stumble out of the bed.

My legs are still asleep, so it's really hard to move. But somehow, I make it down the ladder and into a hallway that overlooks a study. "Uncle Mario, tell me! Why? Why were they killed? Why was Caterina's family killed too? You know! Tell me!" Ezio begs.

The man beside him looks down at his nephew. "I thought Giovanni would be the one to tell you," he begins, shaking his head.

"Ezio, both the Auditores and the Voltaires are Assassins."