inFAMOUS Creed: Electric Eden Ch.20

Chapter 20: The Missing Assassin

~***With Ezio and Caterina***~

"Ezio! Thank God, you're back with us. Are you alright? What happened to you?"

"I…I don't know…" Ezio responded.

"One of my guards had the luck to find you in the hills. Next to Checco Orsi's dead body."

"That I remember…Wait…Where is Cole?"

Caterina's face dropped. "I haven't seen him since he brought Bianca back to me. He set off to the mountains to aid you in your pursuit for Checco Orsi."

"Something isn't right here. He was acting strange earlier."

"You don't think he…?" Caterina began.

"No… impossible. He wouldn't have done all of this if he was our enemy. Despite how twisted the Templars are, they wouldn't go as far as to killing off their own." Ezio explained.

Cole had shown time and time again that he was a man of his word. He is an Assassin, nothing else and swears his loyalty to not just the Assassins but to the people as well. He fights for the people to liberate them, not to encage them. For him to be a Templar agent would be a shock of the upmost caliber.

"And…there was another man…He took the Apple!" Ezio said.

"Who?"

"He wore a black robe, like a monk…And I think…a missing finger? Sì! Caterina I have to go – right away."

Caterina stood up to allow Ezio to sit up.

"Then you will need this as well." She handed Ezio a piece of paper.

"The map Niccolò spoke of. Your husband's-"

"EX-husband mio caro…He spoke he'd uncovered the locations of all the codex pages. You will recover the Apple, but you'll never find the vault without this."

"You know there is an Abbey in the wetlands near here, where I've seen monks wearing black robes. I'd start there. Now go. Find our beloved Assassin and find us a stramaledetto monk."

Ezio smiled. "I think I'm going to miss you Caterina."

"Oh, I know you will." She responded with a smirk.

Ezio leaped from the rooftops to make his way over to the Abbey in the wetlands. Along the way, he couldn't stop thinking. Cole has made firmly known that he is a valuable asset and a good friend. His treachery would be absolutely shocking and could possibly dismantle the brotherhood.

"Ezio!" Niccolò called out to Ezio.

"Niccolò? What is it?"

"Do you know where Cole is? I have been looking all over for him but I cannot locate him."

"I…I don't know Niccolò. Caterina told me he disappeared when he went into the mountains to find me."

"This is very unusual…"

"And another thing, there is a monk in black robes who took the Apple. He is missing a finger. Do you have any idea as to who this may be?"

"Not a clue. You set out to find this monk, I will return to the other Assassins to try to track down Cole."

"Bene."

Ezio ran off in his mission to find the missing monk.

And hopefully this case of the missing Assassin would be solved as well.

~AC~IF~

Once he arrived, he arrived just in time to see two guards harassing a monk by the name of Brother O'Callahan. He was a friendly, gentle, and very kind hearted monk, undeserving of the punishment he was receiving.

Ezio swooped down and swiftly took down the two guards with his hidden blades.

"Blessings on you, brother." O'Callahan said.

"Grazie. I wonder if you can help me?"

'What do you seek?"

"A monk in black robes who lacks one of his ten fingers."

"Well…Brother Guido has only nine toes. Are you sure it wasn't a toe?" O'Callahan asked.

"Quite sure." Ezio responded.

"And then there's Brother Domenico, but it's his whole arm he's lacking."

"Again, quite sure it was a finger."

"Hmm…Now wait a moment, I do recall a black robed monk with nine fingers. Yes, of course, when we had our last San Vincenzo's feast at the abbey."

"Yes, I know the place, I'll try there. Grazie."

"Go in peace brother."

"I always do."

~AC~IF~

Ezio arrived at the abbey and began to scan the area to find the man that could help him further. Or even better, find the man behind all of this and end it right then and there before it has the chance to develop further.

If it hasn't already.

Ezio eventually found the man he was looking for.

"Excuse me, brother. I wonder if you can-"

The man turned around and yelped in fear.

"Unholy demon! Get away!" He yelled.

"What's wrong?" Ezio asked. It's not every day someone gets called an unholy demon. Even an Assassin.

"You're the one who killed Brother Stefano! Brothers! The killer of the monks has returned!" He exclaimed.

The monk attempted to flee, but Ezio wasn't going to have any of it. He knows something that could be critical in Ezio's blind search.

He tackled him to the ground, forced him to rise on his feet and held him tightly by the collar of his robe.

"Please, no! I don't want to die!" The monk pleaded.

"I only kill those who kill others, and your Brother Stefano was a killer. I'm sure you are no such thing. Now, listen to me. I'm looking for a black robbed monk who is missing a finger."

"Missing a finger you say? You mean…Fra' Savonarola?" The monk spoke.

"Savonarola!? Who is this? You know him?" Ezio asked while releasing him.

"I did…He was one of us. For a time."

"And then?"

"We suggested that he retire to a hermitage for a good long time."

"I'm afraid to say his retreat has come to end. Where would he have gone?"

"Oh dear…Santo Spirito, in Firenze. It's where he studied. Perhaps it's where he would return."

"I thank you." Ezio said.

"W-wait Messere." The monk called out.

"What troubles you?"

"I-I-I was in the mountains a little earlier. I think I saw one of your own being dragged away by another man.

"What!? Did you see what he looked like?"

"Partially. He was wearing a hooded cape, a black undershirt, black pants, and black boots all accented by thin red streaks."

'That doesn't sound like Rodrigo…' Ezio mused to himself.

"Were you able to see his face? Ezio asked.

"I was only to see part of his face; his hood covered it well. But it was strange. He didn't appear human. His skin was of a sickly gray color with black streaks, his veins perhaps? And I could have sworn he had eyes of the deepest and brightest red. Curiousity got to me so I followed them for a while but then it was like they disappeared into thin air."

"Do you have any idea as to where they may have gone?" Ezio asked.

"N-no sorry." The man was almost terrified to give that answer.

"It is okay, grazie mille for the information. Go with God, brother." Ezio said before walking off.

It couldn't have possibly have been Rodrigo that took Cole. The descriptions simply didn't match. This means along with Savonarola, there is another enemy lurking in the shadows. A very dangerous enemy. If they have the caliber to defeat Cole, this is an enemy they must be very careful with.

Ezio had to share this bit of information with the Assassins. While they try to pick up the trail on Cole, he could try to resolve the situation in Firenze. Both situations were of upmost importance. If one or both of them is left unresolved, it could spell trouble for the Assassins. Trouble that they may not be able to get out of.

On the way to Firenze, Ezio would stop by Monteriogonni to share these news with Uncle Mario. And from there, hopefully, they can come up with something.

Because if their most valuable asset, ally, and friend somehow falls into the wrong hands. This battle could be over.

And this war could be lost.