22} Don't Leave me: Part 2

Just a quick reminder of what happened in part 1:

Instead I head an anguished cry and pounding footsteps. I open my eyes in time to see Vieri charge at Ezio with his sword drawn and Ezio turn in time to counter it. He then knocks Vieri's blade upwards and sinks his own blade into Vieri's stomach. A strangled cry escapes me and I struggle to find my footing. Vieri's eyes look to me and he smiles warmly as he crumples to the floor. Pushing Ezio out of the way, I surge towards his body and drop to my knees next to him. Please don't leave me...

And now on with Part 2...enjoy *insert ominous laughing*.

I reach my shaky hands to the underside of his head/neck and gently lift it to rest on my lap. I run my hands through his hair and my other hand I place over his wound. My eyes prickle and the tears start to flow out of them, soon falling on to Vieri's pale face.

"Hey, please don't cry my bella. Sadness doesn't suit you." He smiles weakly and cups my face with his hand, wiping away my tears with his thumb.

"You can't leave me. Not now...not just a few weeks before...before..." An uncontrollable sob escapes my lips and I start to shake.

"Please, I know you don't love me in the same way I love you... I can tell that you are thinking of someone else when we are together." He takes a deep breath and I can feel the blood seeping from his wound which makes me cry harder. "Thank you...for saying yes to me even though you didn't want to. I haven't told anyone this but all I have ever wanted is to be a good son and maybe one day father. Ha, not likely now."

"Please...I can't...I don't want to loose my friend!" I can't stop my damn crying! I'm so useless, I can't even help him when he needs it most!

"Let me see your face properly...one last time." He reaches out with his own shaking hands and lifts back the hood of my cloak. I hear anxious pacing and a low gasp from behind me. Ezio...he must know it's me now. Then I really will have lost everything.

"(Y/N)... I mean what I said earlier. I really do...love you so much it hurts..." Vieri's breathing hitches and his hands slowly drop to his sides. He's slipping away from me.

"Vieri..." My crying is now silent as I close his eyes and lay his head gently on the cold stone. "Requiescat in Pace, amico mio."

The sound of soft footsteps behind me reawakens my senses and I stand up, whipping around to face the shocked young man. I reach for my sword to find it missing, lying on the floor where Ezio knocked it out of my hands.

I raise my fists and get into my fight stance, bracing for an attack. None come. Instead Ezio steps forward and wraps me in his strong arms. His scent overwhelming but his body heat feels nice in the chilly night air. I relax in the safety of his embrace.

"(Y/N), you are alive! I was so worried when I left you and you never contacted me! I though you were dead or worse, I thought the Templars had you." He splutters, holding me tightly until he finishes speaking. Pulling away rom me he holds me at arms length and looks at me confusedly. "How do you know Vieri? And why do you hang around with the Pazzi and Rodrigo?"

I don't ,rather can't, say anything. The man I would do anything for just killed the man I was going to marry in a few weeks. I'm shocked into silence. Seeing my vacant expression, watery eyes and my lack of speech Ezio looks back down to Vieri then back at me. He takes my hand and starts stroking it with his thumb, stopping when his fingers brush over my ring. My engagement ring.

"You and Vieri...you were close?" He probes cautiously, almost hesitantly.

I nod weakly and look back down at Vieri's still form.

"We were...were going to..." I can't finish my sentence.

"I'm sorry (y/n). I had to do it, I had to avenge my father and brothers. The Pazzi need to be brought down." He tries to catch my eye but I refuse to look at him. I don't know how to feel about him right now. I still love him but I can't seem to forgive him just yet.

"Just leave, Ezio. Your uncle will be looking for you." The tears trickle down my cheek as I push Ezio away roughly.

"(Y/n) I can't leave you here. There are these people, Templars, I can't let them get you. They're the ones who murdered my family! Vieri was one and so is his whole family." Ezio regains balance and reaches towards me again. I jump backwards and draw the dagger from the holder strapped to my upper thigh. I hold the slightly curved dagger  in my clenched fists.

"Shut up and leave! You are so god damn ignorant Ezio. Ever thought that maybe I hang around with the Templars because I am one? Or a you too much of a big headed assassin to think that maybe even a young girl like me has already been training all her life to become the next grand master? Go run home to your uncle, I'm sure he can train you up so you can become a second rate killer." I spit harshly, staring coldly at his shocked face.

"(Y/n), what are you saying? You're a Templar?" Ezio asks and my heart jackhammers madly in my chest. Can I even tell him?

"Yes. And I've been given orders to kill you so if I were you I'd run before I have to make good on the promise I made to my order." I hear voices approaching. A deep Italian accent sounding all too cheerful. Mario again.

Ezio turns to the voice too and I quickly kneel next to Vieri and remove his ring along with his golden locket necklace. Standing up and peering over the edge of the wall I notice a hay cart. With one last painful glance at Vieri's body, i throw myself off the wall and into the cart.

I hop out and jog over to the horse I had tied at the city gate. Mounting it I gallop into the countryside and towards Firenze to alert my father of today's events.