Artista || Da Vinci's Demons fanfic

Chapter 1 - New Begginings

Stella came to Florence with innocence in her heart and a warm sparkle in her eyes. The first few months she had been there were a bit of a ride, some ups, some downs. A few days after meeting Vanessa, a room finally opened up at the Barking Dog. Stella didn't realise she had been living in a brothel until a few strange and drunk men ventured into the wrong room. Vanessa's sharp mouth scolded them for intruding a rented room had rubbed off on the young woman throughout the months. She had some friends, thank God she still had Bella safe and nearby, some enemies too, but she hadn't found the maestro everyone kept talking about yet.

On a spring morning, like any other in Florence, with the sun coming up in the sky, Stella ventured to the market for some fresh groceries. The scent of fresh plants and fruits stirring up the already bright and loud air at the square. She was looking for a flower or two to brighten up her dull room and searched for a while. Walking about, unbothered by the sunlight stroking her hair, one pair of careful eyes caught that same reflection.

She went about her day, testing all the scents of the market, of every flower and herb she could get her hands on. She stopped suddenly when she saw a small little flower, bright yellow in the centre lined with small black dots along the petals. She sighed at the scent of memories and the beauty of what she found to be majestic flowers her mother used to grow in their garden. When she asked the price, she was shocked.

"Oh, that rubbish? If you like them, just take them, no one ever does"

Confused, she took all of them in her basket and as she turned she saw a folded piece of drawing paper inside it. Looking around she couldn't see who had put it there and decided to open it.

"Meet me at the Barking Dog at sundown, I wish to speak to you"

There was no name written in the note but she knew who it was. It was the one and only, Leonardo Da Vinci. She thought it was a good idea to meet the maestro himself and giggled to herself. This could be her oportunity, after all this time here. Stella spent the rest of the afternoon singing and cooking and smiling. Her new kitchen was designed the same way her old one was, with identical furniture and cabinets and even the food she made was the same. Throughout the afternoon her feet barely touched the ground from the amount of dancing she had done. She was excited to finally meet the man she came out here to find.

On the contrary, Leonardo was keeping his mind busy with new and improved inventions and machines of all sorts. He hasn't been out of his studies for longer than a walk since the chilled winter. He was deemed insane by many, at times even by his closest friends, the always faithful young Nico, and the always mischievous foreigner Zoroaster.

Coming into the maestro's workshop, they saw their friend hunched over the table. He was scribbling with his left hand and his right hand twitching in the air, the usual thinking technic the young artista had developed. Not hearing them enter, Leonardo was startled when they spoke to him.

"Inventing again, maestro?" the tanned man teased

"Not now, Zo, I'm trying to think"

"Maestro, who is that?"

Teenager's words pulled the black haired genius from his thoughts. A sudden realization and horror came over his face.

"I don't know" he said "Nico, I actually don't know"

He quickly got up and rumagged through his sketches to see if he caught her name anywhere. But other than the mesmerising beauty of the unknown signora, he found nothing. Another thought popped into his head.

"The Barking Dog. What time is it?"

"It's almost sundown, Leo, why?" Zo was confused

"Oh shit. I have to go" Leo corrected himself "No, no, we have to go. I'm going to meet her tonight"