Assassin's Creed II: Dream of Venice

Chapter 10: Stranger

   Wearing the red dress you had worn before your meeting with La Volpe, you sat on your bed. You stared at the clothes on your bed, wishing you could wear those rather than the dress. However, with your arm injured you couldn't do much, so you thought you might as well wear the dress.

Using some cloth you found around the brothel, you had made something to hold your arm in place so that you would not move it accidently. You looked down at your hands and sighed. Was I too mean to Teodora? Was what I said about my mother too mean? You physically shook the thoughts away. You would not take back what you had said. After all, nothing you had said was false. She never told you why you didn't see your father, she never told you what she did, she wasn't always there for you, and she never told you why Petruccio and his family were executed...

You stopped thinking of what she didn't do, as you remembered when Petruccio was executed.

*

"What are you doing here? You should not see this." She said softly but you didn't move.

"They were executed for treason." You said quietly, "He was my friend." You whimpered as a small tear made its way down your cheek. Your mother pulled you into a warm, almost comforting hug.

"I know, darling, I know." She said quietly as she smoothed your hair down.

*

She had comforted you then, and promised you that they would be avenged. Perhaps she didn't tell me as she thought I was too young. No, that could not be it. It was involved in her work, perhaps she didn't tell me to further distance me from her work?

You shook your head. This wasn't time to be thinking too much, you had somewhere to be. You picked up your cloak and attempted to wrap it around your shoulder, but to no avail. Without the use of your right arm, you couldn't tie it.

I will have to ask for help. You sighed at that thought. You didn't particularly like asking for help, as you felt as though you were bothering the person you asked. I will have to ask, I have no choice.

*

Having asked one of the girls – Emilia, you believed her name was – to tie your cloak, you headed for the door of the brothel. As you approached the door, you felt eyes on you. Turning, you locked eyes with Teodora. Hers showed no emotion. I should have never said those cruel things to her.

With a sigh, you opened the door of the brothel, and stepped out onto the street. There were multiple people walking along the street, including multiple children. As a group of them ran past you, shouting and laughing at each other, you smiled to yourself. Looking around at the people, your eyes skimmed over a man who seemed to be stood watching you, but when you looked back in an attempt to see for sure, he was gone.

Is somebody watching me? You wondered, though knew that wondering would gain you nothing. Were this another day, you would have searched for the man, but with your injury you knew that any efforts to do so would be futile. Perhaps if you mentioned it to Ezio he would see if he could find the man? I shouldn't bother Ezio with my troubles. Having not spoken to him in two years, you believed it may be seen as rude to just request he run errands for you.

Shaking your head, you made your way to the market.

*

You arrived at the market and looked around yourself for Ezio. Unable to see him, you made your way over to Gavino's stall.

"Ciao, Gavino!" You called over, pulling his attention from the letter he was reading.

"[Name]! What are you doing out of bed?" He asked, hurriedly putting the letter away and turning his attention to you. "You should be in bed resting!"