Long time no see, huh? Well, somebody kicked my ass (thanks, Ann) and I have finally written it. Hahaha-

Again, thanks for commenting. You guys are truly amazing ;-;

It is slowly getting to the end... So enjoy~!

Funny thing, really. All my life I had thought so highly about myself but I couldn't deal with a little bit of snow. I was actually able to accept defeat. It was surprisingly easy to forget about everything I wanted to achieve, to abandon my dreams and just lie there not trying anymore.

I could hear something. A murmur of some sort, not words nor sentence, just meaningless whispers. I was rather fascinated with them. I mean, I died but I still could hear.

Maybe there was a life after. Maybe Riario's God was just waiting to put their hand on me and punish me. Suddenly it seemed possible and very likely. But I wasn't scared. Just curious. I wanted to stand up and explore the new word that was, without a doubt, waiting for me.

It took some time but I wasn't rushing anywhere. I succeed in opening my eyes but I still didn't see anything. I frowned, blinking rapidly. It was dark. Black. No light at all.

"Am I blind...?" my voice was hoarse and I probably hurt my throat with this few words. Should I even feel so much pain if I was dead?

Maybe it was hell. And if it was I had to find a way out. Or make one, if it didn't exist.

For a planning escape I needed knowledge of my surroundings, I needed to do some research and I wanted to do it as quickly as possible. I closed me eyes again, trying to focus on the whispers I heard before.

They weren't there. Well, beautiful.

I sighed and tried to determine on what exactly I was sitting. I guessed it was a bed of some sort with some blankets on it. Part of me wanted to stay in it, stay under the cover and don't move. But a will to fight was there again, pushing me up.

And I did stand up. I made few uneasy steps and quickly found myself almost falling down again. My legs weren't really capable of walking but it didn't matter. I blinked few times but it was still too dark. I sighed, trying to force myself to move.

There was a loud thump as I collided with something hard. I fell down, hitting my head. The pain made me almost faint again.

"Will you shut up?"

Words. There was someone there with me! I wasn't alone. Suddenly I just had to stay awake. Focus, I needed to focus.

"Who's here?" Talking helped. "Where is here?"

"Fuck if I know," snorted the man. I had a strange feeling that I had known his voice. Like I had heard him before. Not being able to recognise him made me feel even more unsure. Why couldn't I?

"Are we dead?" that still seemed like logical explanation, at least at that time. Because I changed my mind when he openly laughed at me.

"Getting really mad, are you?"

And then there was silence again. I tried to think of something witty to say but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not good.

I finally forced myself up on my legs again. This time I was more careful with my exploring, trying to actually feel where I was placing my feet. After what had to be years I reached something. A ladder, I came to conclusion, as I examine it with my hand. I smirked. A way out.

There was no strength left in my muscles so I was probably climbing with my will only. Anyway, I reached the top. I tried to push the celling to make it open. But it didn't, no matter how hard I pounded.

"Hey!" I shouted as loud as I could, "Hey!"

Suddenly there were hands on my legs, dragging me down. I tried to hold onto something but to no use. I slipped and fell on top of somebody. He flipped us over and kicked me in my stomach, knocking the air out of my lungs. I groaned, trying to push him off. But he hit me again and again I didn't understand why exactly I was receiving the beating.

"Stop!"

It all stopped with an order. I blinked, coughing, listening to the sounds of struggle somewhere above me. There was another fellow out there and I hadn't noticed?

"The bastard deserve it," snarled one of them. I guessed he gave up because it was almost silent again. "He is going to lure out that thing!"

"He doesn't know about it."

Whoa, whoa, I was beginning to worry. What thing they were talking about that made them so scared? Was it just one of those stupid beliefs, a monster from stories that no one should believe them? Or was it a really danger, hiding somewhere, keeping us as its prisoners?

"I don't," I managed to spit out. "I'm sorry."

There was another blow to my side and I coughed again, hating the fact that I couldn't see anything. I would show them-

"Fuck, Michel, stop right now. He might be useful."

That name was familiar too.

"If the thing takes him first than yes, maybe," he muttered. For some reason I could imagine him crossing his arms, looking at the other man provocatively. I managed to sit and even rub my throbbing side.

"Excuse me," I said, trying my best to sound calm and absolutely indifferent. "What is that thing you're keep chattering about?"

"Shut up, artist."

Sadly I didn't have the time to think about the way he called me. There was a loud crack that almost made my skin crawl and then there was pain.

Light. The light came from an open trapdoor and filled the cold room. Too much for my eyes to take so I closed them. I was only partly aware of the hand that tried to drag me backward, of the sound of heavy footsteps, about a silent sob somewhere on the left.

"Take him," said Michel, a pathetic plead in his voice. "Take that little shit but leave us alone!"

I opened my eyes again and this time managed to keep it like this. My vision was blurry at first but slowly getting better. I tried to remember as much as I can but it was hard to focus on our surrounding when the man that came in was huge like a bear.

I didn't really feel like I was looking at a human anyway. More like some kind of animal, a giant beast that was ready to strike. Yet it wouldn't be fair to judge someone just because of their looks... Right?

"Pythagoras?" I guessed, gaining some hope. He scowled at me, for a moment not saying anything. I stared at him, my heartbeat racing and my breath speeding rapidly.

"It's me," he said finally. I almost couldn't believe. I found him. Or maybe he found me, didn't matter anymore. For a second I was so relieved that I really ignored the dangerous looking axe in his left hand and the horror in Michel's eyes. My brain just couldn't accept the fact that I shouldn't be so happy.

"I was told you knew my mother."

It was more important than anything. Than the whole Book of Leaves itself. I needed to find her, to ask her the questions that were troubling me for my whole life. And man standing in front of me just may had the possibility to help me.

"I don't think so."

"My name is Leonardo. Leonardo da Vinci and-"

"Shut up."

He moved fast, faster than I could expected from a man of his built. I wasn't able to do anything, I just let him hit me. But really, I wasn't even aware of the pain. The man had almost driven me to despair, the sudden disappointment I felt! It wasn't over, I tried to tell myself, but it was so hard. Being so close but yet so far.

"You need to listen to me-"

He proved me that he did not. He pulled me by my hair , almost tearing it out.

"No, you need to listen to me, da Vinci." He flung me on the floor. "I couldn't care less about that whore."

I couldn't do anything as I watched him pass me and grab one of the men, the one that had apparently tried to help me before. Pythagoras was completely indifferent to his shouting, struggling, fighting. He just pulled him behind him.

It wasn't before they reached the ladder when Michel finally spoke, "Leave him alone, monster!"

I looked at him and I immediately knew. This two were friends, close friends. I expected our captor to ignore him but in fact he stopped and looked at the man who dared to stop him.

"You want to take his place?"

The look at the Michel face was really worth drawing. I could see the dilemma painted in his eyes. All the pain, the terror, the suddenly lack of braveness. The courage was gone as soon at it had appeared and he was back to his sobbing self. He looked straight at his companion and muttered something.

Sorry or goodbye, of that I wasn't sure.

"Thought so."

And they were gone. He closed the trapdoor and the lights was gone again. It didn't bother me anymore, though. I had enough time to grasp my surroundings and remember it well enough. Of course the dark wasn't helping but it was just a little inconvenience.

"Michel?" I tried to move to the place where he was. His sobbing didn't stop and I didn't even know why he was so afraid. "What is going to happen to him?"

The man shouted suddenly and crashed at me, sending us on the ground again. Really, that was getting old. The countless times I felt was starting to really get on my nerves.

"It's your fault!" he snarled. I tried to push him off me, but he was just to strong. He held me in place, venting his anger on me. Scratching, beating, kicking. It didn't last long, though. He stopped dead in his tracks when a noise almost gave us a heart attack.

I had been really proud of my scream from before. I had even tricked Riario and lured him out. But it hadn't been anywhere near comparable to the one I was hearing in that moment. It lasted longer, too.

Or, maybe I should say, it just didn't stop.

Somebody above us was yelling and weeping and shrieking. There was so much pain in it that it was almost unbearable and I could only guess that Pythagoras was torturing the man that he took with him.

It wasn't anything foreign to me. I remembered my journey to Vlad's castle and how cruel he was. I remembered that poor boy on a breaking wheel in Florence. Heck, even the beating that my father ordered for me.

It wasn't that different, really.

It wasn't that different, really. The same pointless cruelty that served nobody. Yet I was so scared that I nearly couldn't breathe. Maybe it was because of Michel, who was tearing apart still half lying at me or the knowledge that I was probably next.

No, I knew it wasn't the case.

It was about my mother. Why would she know a man like that? I was sure she did, Pythagoras called her a whore afterall. It filled me with rage, yes, but also gave a proof that he knew who I was talking about.

What kind of relations they had? Were they friends? Was my mother okay with his actions? No, they probably weren't really on good terms, but still-

"Michel," I said and I finally got it. He was the one that Riario sent to capture me. He was the one that I knocked out with a sword and left in the woods. Girolamo gave an order to get him out of the forest and he used this name. "You are one of the Count's men."

"Of course I am," he finally got up, allowing me to sit. There was anger in his voice but at least our talking stifled the shouting above, just a little bit. "What kind of curse have you casted on him, demon?!"

I blinked few times, trying my best not to laugh at this. But really, no was not the best time to giggle like a little girl so I stopped myself.

"He's ill or something?"

"No. But he chases you around when he should just kill you already." I raised my eyebrows at that comment. He was right, wasn't he?

"Why are you here, then?" I asked, just in case. I had some theory but I could get it out of him, it was faster.

"To catch you, of course. It's all your fault. It's your fault that monster caught us and now my friend is dying because of you."

I didn't feel like laughing anymore. Biting my lips, I thought about nonsense that I shoved into Riario's throat. Michel was right, right, so right. Another human was going to be killed because I just wanted the truth too much.

I wanted to just lie down and give up. The screams weren't really helping in boosting my morale. But it wasn't really an option, was it?

"Did he capture Count too?" I wasn't even able to keep the worry out of my voice. It was strange but I did care about his fate. To make it worse, I thought about Girolamo more than about Zoro. That had to stop.

"No, of course not."

I closed my eyes, not that it made a big difference. An idea was already forming in my mind, getting bigger and more reasonable. Not easy, not safe, but possible. All I needed was a rope, Michel's cooperation and a little bit of luck.

"We are getting out," I raised my hands up, determined to make a point. "All we need is to survive till he comes to rescue."

There was a loud crack up there and then a howl of agony.

"And how are we going to do that?" of course he didn't believe in the possibility, his friend was getting beaten to death. But he was going to. He was going to see that I could achieve what I wanted.

"I have a plan, so listen carefully."

I told him everything. As I thought, he was desperate enough to agree.

So there we were, planning our big escape. It was a relief, really, because my mind started to work normally. And I wasn't dead. Hell was probably a good name for that place, but at least I was alive.

If I had to name my biggest flaw I would probably choose the lack of patience. Of course I could think of some more - especially if my lovely dad helped me - but they didn't matter in the situation I was. What mattered was the fact that I should have rested a little bit but my body and mind just wouldn't allow that. I was pacing, going back and forth, trying to see through the dark, trying find something, anything, to get occupied with.

I reached the cupboard where I had found the rope. Once again I searched through the drawers. Michel snorted, annoyed by the noise. But this time I had actually found something. I couldn't take a look at it but I guessed it was some sort of a needle and a thread. I quickly put it in my pocket.

"Oh God," my companion whispered. "It stopped. He is dead."

I knew who he was talking about. His friend stopped screaming. I welcomed the silence and - in some twisted way - got excited by it. I felt guilty, too. But the danger awaiting was thrilling.

"Hey," I hurried to him and patted his shoulder lightly. He pushed me away but it didn't matter. "I need you focused. You will have time to mourn him later."

"Yes," there was hatred in his voice but at least he wasn't sobbing anymore. I sighed, pushing my thoughts away from Zo's face.

"We need to get in positions."

And so it started. At first he tried to help but he was really useless in the dark so I took care of everything. I placed the rope, moved the cupboard and then hid behind it, deliberately sticking my leg out.

"You ready?" it was like a hundred time I asked it but I was just nervous. My plan was brilliant, of course, but something bad still could happen.

"Yes."

I hoped he crouched behind the ladder just like I told him to do. Couldn't really check it, because it was dark. All I could do was wait.

I hated it. Staying in one spot for such a long time, shivering from the cold and anxiety, feeling my muscle becoming numb. I was almost relieved when I heard the trapdoor opening. The light filled the room. I couldn't see him but I could see his shadow on the wall.

'God, help me?' it wasn't even a serious thought but it helped me.

"Hiding like a rats you are?" he was on the ground already. I held my breath as he moved towards me, toward my leg that he could surely see. "Well, I can see you."

I looked up, at his face. He just leaned on the cupboard, probably wanting to scare us. But he was the one that got surprised. It was the moment when he noticed that I was alone and that the other one was behind his back. That we weren't actually hiding because we were too scared to think. That we had a plan and he was in danger.

I waited but the attack never came. Michel didn't jump to strangle him with a rope. For a second I thought he just couldn't do that. That after all he was unable to attack, unable to move.

He said he could. That he wanted to do it, to avenge his friend. Of course I believed him because really, it made sense at this point. But it was a lie. A mistake. A proof that I was careless and stupid, just so stupid!

He could move and probably attack too. It was just he didn't want to.

Pythagoras roared, turning on his heels, striking the cupboard with his ax with a loud thump. Then he ran and he ran very fast, but not fast enough. Michel was on the top of the ladder already, climbing out. In a blink of an eye he shut the trapdoor, completly betraying my unreasonable trust.

I was left behind in the dark. I wasn't alone, though. I was locked in a small room with a crazy, violent man with an ax with no ability to defend myself.

I couldn't see him but I could hear him. His roar made me jump but also woke me up. It was a hopeless situation but I still wanted to do something, anything. So I moved on my knees, away from the cupboard, away from him. It was kind of success - because of the dark he didn't know where I was.

But he didn't seem to care. He did not look for me, as he was banging the trapdoor with his weapon. I guessed that an axe was actually capable of getting through the wood. And it did, judging by beams of light rapidly appearing in the room. Another struck and he made his way out. That was quick.

For a moment I thought he was going to leave me there, going for the one that outwitted him. But no, he had to get back to me and grab me roughly by my arm. I wasn't even trying to struggle, not wanting to end with a blade in my chest.

"Behave," he ordered, dragging me up.

It was a relief, getting out of the cellar. Unfortunately it didn't mean getting out of his house. And really, it just smelled so bad there. Like a rotten meat or something. I pretended I didn't know exactly what I was and that I didn't see a huge stain of blood on his floor.

The room itself was nice, cozy even. A fire was happily burning in the fireplace, warm and welcoming. The furniture looked comfortable and expensive. Generally nothing like I expected. We were in the middle of the nowhere and my host was a murderer, a cave would be more fitting!

A chill wind made me aware of the open doors just few steps ahead. Of course I wasn't allowed to go. Pythagoras forced me to sit next to a table and bounded me there. Not bad. I could free myself from that. Yet he did not seem to be concerned about the fact that Michel got away.

"He isn't going to get far, is he?" I asked and he smiled a little, putting on a warm looking coat. Few seconds later and he was gone. A minute and I could stand up, as free as I could be.

I winced to the sound of wolves howling outside. I decided that I would not gain anything from running out like a mad man. First I needed to look around and maybe... Maybe eat something.

My stomach growled at this idea so I began my search. It wasn't long before I found a piece of fresh meat. I felt sick again, not so hungry anymore. But there was nothing else and I really needed all the strength I could gain. So I reached for it.

I put a blanket on my shoulders and finally got out. I shivered because it was just too cold, wind playing with my hair. Even my breath was turning into ice. I didn't have time for that nonsense. I looked around but all I could see was white. White trees, white ground, everything white. Something snarled in the distance but it didn't matter.

Footprints were absolutely visible in the fresh snow. It was obvious where Michel went and Pythagoras probably followed. I had a feeling which of these two didn't stand a chance. I frowned. Had that fool listen to me, he would had have a chance to survive.

The growl was louder this time and I spotted the wolf - or dog, it was hard to tell - who moved steadily towards me. I cursed under my breath and got back to the house, shutting the door. I could hear it snarling.

But staying there was still not an option- Pythagoras was bound to return in any moment. I looked around, biting my lips. The meat was still there, giving me an idea.

I opened the door just a little bit and throw the piece at the wolf, which was standing surprisingly close. Almost as if it was not scared of the house.

"Eat," I said, watching it closely. And it did. From that distance it looked surprisingly beautiful. But when I tried to get out it snarled again, stopping me. "Come on, don't be like this!"

It didn't seem to be convinced. It finished its meal and licked its lips, lying down on the snow. I moved back in the house and brought it some more. It ate, of course, but it did not show gratitude. Not at all. Probably it was just like a snack and I was going to be its dinner.

I sighed, looking at the fireplace. I did not want to hurt it but I guessed there was no other option. I grabbed a burning stick and moved out. It looked almost offended but actually moved back, like it was used to this treatment.

Of course getting it out of my way was just a part of the success. I still had to find a way to ran away.

I had wasted enough already time so I moved forward, in the opposite direction than Michel. The wolf was silently following me, growling only now and then. I wasn't sure if it was going to attack or make any aggressive moves. For a while it was rather calm but I did not know if it was going to be permanent.

It was a strange walk. I was stumbling now and then, sliding on the ice, almost fell once or twice. I wanted to run, to dash madly. Scared of the death awaiting. Scared of the snow that was still threatening me. But I forced myself to go in a steady pace, not too fast but not too slow either.

I had to stop few times to gain back my breath. I was still exhausted and I guessed fainted was possible. But one look at the animal made me feel awake again. The only positive thing about its presence.

All of the sudden I spotted something. A smoke, somewhere in a distance. It wasn't coming from the Pythagoras's house. It was either Riario or... Zo.

There was hope again.

The wolf was getting excited. Judging by its tail - which was wagging happily at that point - I got a feeling that it may not be a wolf after all. A dog, dog would be more fitting.

It lunged forward, leaving me behind. Out of pure curiosity I followed it, not even noticing that the fire on my stick had already burnt out. It took few minutes until I reached a small cottage.

No, more like a shed. The dog was pacing around it, barking. When I approached it growled again but didn't attack. I looked inside the building and felt tears appearing in my eyes. A treasure.

Sled. Dogs sled, to be exact. The animal was sniffing at them still wagging its tail. I looked at it carefully. It looked strong enough to pull it, maybe even by itself. I had never ride anything like that so I had no idea how. Yet. The machine did not look very complex. I was almost sure I could handle it.

"Ready for a run?" Talking to a dog was strange but I didn't care. It barked in response but then suddenly bristled. "What's wrong?"

"She knows you are not going anywhere," came the response. I turned on my heels, my heart already racing. There he was, standing in the snow with his head high. It was hard not to notice blood on the blade of his axe. It was like hope was being torn away from me again and I could not do anything to stop it.

"Why?" I asked on impulse. Why would he do something like that? It seemed completely senseless for me, killing for sport? And I wanted to understand. "Do you even have a purpose in all of these?"

"Yes," he really was calm and firm. Not missing a heartbeat, not caring. "I do."

I shivered. From cold or fear, maybe both. I moved few steps forward, getting out of the shed. It could not protect me anyway.

"What is it, then?" What drove him to do what he did? Why was he so violent? Just tell me, I wanted to shout. But I kept quiet and tried to ignore the dog snarling behind my back.

"Let's talk about your mother, shall we? It's why you are here."

I looked at him, surprise probably visible in my eyes. I wasn't expecting it. I thought I would have to make him talk yet he seemed ready to tell me just what I wanted. I quickly nodded my head.

"Somebody told me you knew her." There was hope in my voice, I just couldn't keep it out.

"I did."

I had already known that but it was a confirmation. I looked around, gulping. A lot of questions suddenly crossed my mind and I couldn't even decide which of them should go first.

"How... What kind of person was she?" it was a lame one but it was what came out from my lips. So I guess I had to cope with that.

"I've already told you this," he smirked and I felt my heart dropped, "she was a whore."

I wanted to shout at him. Tighten my fist and hit him, hard. How dared he-?

"What do you mean by that?" I was barely holding myself together, so close to break.

The snow began to fall again, as it was laughing at me.

"Exactly what I said," he shrugged and looked at me with concern. Fake one. "Was expecting something different, wasn't you? Something about how great she was. Well, she wasn't. She wasn't anywhere need good and you shouldn't have looked for here. Seems like you are going to die because of her."

Was he telling the truth or maybe he wanted to see me break after all? It had to be the second option. He was lying, saying what I dreaded to hear. It wasn't even a bastard move anymore. I would never do something like that.

"I won't die," I put me hand into my pocket but all I could feel was a small needle. Not exactly a thing that could help me. "You will."

"And you will be the one killing me?" he started walking, getting closer and closer. I didn't try to run away. I knew I would be dead as soon as I turned my back on him. He smiled just a little bit and swung his axe at my head.

I managed to jump just in time to avoid my death. But the snow was tricky - you never knew where the ice was. And I just landed on ice and found myself on the ground in few seconds.

I looked up at him. He was already next to me, prepared to deliver a final blow.

"Wait," I did not plead or cry. In fact it was a demand. "If I am to die, I want to know who killed me."

He looked at me with interest.

"Oh, you would find out anyway," it was like he was talking nonsense. How could I find out anything if I were dead? "But I guess I can tell you. We are the Enemies of the Man."

I wanted to ask what the hell he was talking about but I didn't manage. He didn't want to listen to me anymore. He swung the ax, the blade getting closer and closer to my face. I was going to die.

This time for real.