-Feliciano-1887- Late December -

Someone once told Feliciano that a true gentleman was merely a patient wolf. This so called 'gentleman' wasn't well behaved or patient. Ivan immediately sat between him and this... suitor. I mouthed a quick thank you to my friend. They sat across from me. Since my parents married away my brother, I had only referred to them as them, they or it.

"Feliciano, Sadiq has come to call. Would you make us some tea?" the female it asked.

"Yes I will." sadly, I still had to pretend. I still had to fake happiness, pretend my brother's absence didn't affect me. I rose from my seat and walked into kitchen. When I got to the cabinet that held dishes I grabbed a teapot and set it on the stove while I lit the coals. I poured some water in with a dipper. I reached into the cabinet above me to find the container of tea, but only succeeded in pushing the the box backwards, out of reach. I sighed and dragged a chair over to the cabinet. I grabbed the rouge box of tea, dropped a handful of in the now boiling water, shut the box and put it back. Seeing as how there were cups in the sitting room, I simply grabbed the teapot and walked back. I heard whispers and stopped.

"Well you seem like a fine man." the male it remarked.

"I don't think Feliciano would like this ." Ivan muttered. I wouldn't like this? That doesn't sound good. Still, I listened on.

"Remember your place indentured one." Sadiq snapped.

"I just don't think it is right, marrying your children off for social status and reputation." Ivan's remark was razor sharp.

"You know we could just put you, your sisters and your husband out on the street if we wanted to." There was a silence. I didn't like where this conversation was going, but I still listened.

"Fine." Ivan whispered. "I hope your guilt eats your insides." His accent, which only became prominent when he was upset, was thicker and heavier than molasses. I felt lightheaded and dizzy. Marry off? Guilt? Fine young man? I heard a faint shattering noise. Everything felt strange and unreal. The world started to turn dark around the edges. I felt myself fall towards the ground.

-o0 oh look a line break 0o-

-Feliciano-

When I woke up it was dark out. I grabbed under my mattress for the revolver I had purchased not too long ago. My legs shook, which betrayed how my nerves felt. I stood. I had to make a plan to get out of here! I peeked out my window. It was an 11 foot drop at minimum. I couldn't stop the smirk that spread over my face. If there was one thing my brother had taught me, it was to always have rope, a knife and a book. I felt around in my wardrobe for stuck them in a bag.

Now, which book to take? I brushed my fingers over the spines of my most prized possessions. I stopped at the only one written in Italian. My brother had given it to me as a gift. He'd probably saved up for several months to get it. I opened and smiled at the cuss word ridden dedication the had written. Romeo and Juliet. How oddly fitting. I stuck it in the bag with some clothes, brought out the rope and hung it around the window divider, and began to climb down.

When I got to the bottom I pulled on one side off the rope, causing it to loosen and whack me in the head on the way down. "Owwwwwww." I complained, rubbing my head. Quietly I snuck over to the small stable house, where Katyusha slept and worked. Sure enough, there she was, snoring away on a small pile of hay. I snuck around her, albeit she was a heavy sleeper, but I wasn't taking any chances. I got to the horse, Delilah's stall. "Hey my lovely, up for a ride?" I got a nicker in response. I opened up her stall and brushed away the hay revealing a loose board. I pried up the board and grabbed the saddle bag under it, setting it on the stable floor. I took out a paper and pen, then wrote 'East to home.' I casually dropped it on the ground and began to saddle Delilah. Once I was done, I placed my supplies- food, bullets, clothes, water canteen, bandages, rope, knife, flint and steel, gun- in the saddle bag and mounted her.

"Let's ride." I whispered.

AN: Reviews are love. Flames will be used to roast marshmallows. 30th reviewer gets a one shot.