The streets of Venice were veiled in shadows. All but a sliver of the moon glowed distantly in the sky, unable to penetrate the enveloping darkness of the night. Gentle waves rushed in and out from the sea, churning amongst the empty gondolas, bumping their wooden hulls against the docks. A pair of guards chatted quietly to one another as they made their nightly rounds, their thick armour clinking softly with every step.
The dark assassin stalked through the shadows. The prey was a thug, looking nervously over his shoulder and rightfully so. The man was tall, with a chest like a keg of ale, but that didn't concern the nimble assassin. The hunter slipped from shadow to shadow as the target turned into a secluded alley, a poor decision that would cost him his life. The assassin moved silently across the ground, only the flurry of a jet black cape could be heard as the hunter closed in on the prey.
The white hooded assassin watched the dark figure disappear into the alley. His lips twisted in a self confident smirk. The hunter had become the hunted in this game of cat and mouse. He had set the trap skilfully, paying the thug to meet him in the dark street to discuss business. The thug would be in for a great surprise when he discovered that the dark hooded stranger had no intentions of talking.
The assassin had arrived in Venice less than a fortnight ago and Ezio Auditore had been tracking his movement ever since, but it had proven more difficult than he previously anticipated. Lorenzo believed that the assassin was somehow connected to the Templars and had suggested that Ezio put a quick end to him. Lorenzo had provided Ezio with as much information as he could, but there wasn't much to go on. The identity of the assassin remained a complete mystery. Luckily, the assassin had a specific target range, eliminating mostly murderers and criminals.
The assassin had kept a low profile as soon as he entered the city, never staying in the same place for long. Ezio was finding him increasingly difficult to tail without detection. There were several encounters where Ezio was sure he'd been seen, but the assassin had never pursued him. He was on the right track however, following Ezio's trail of kills in Venice. The assassin had even made a brief trip to the thieves' guild and to Leonardo's workshop, prowling around for clues. He was getting too close, so it was time to put an end to this little game.