Cayley da Vinci

This story follows Cayley da Vinci, but it certainly doesn’t start with her but with her ancestor Leonardo da Vinci and for the story to start we must travel to 1481.

The night sky was pierced by shades of orange and red as the sun starts to rise, beginning a new day over the city of Milan. Leonardo da Vinci was traveling along the road riding his horse after the long journey to the city after receiving a letter asking for his services to the current Duke Francesco Sforza. He pulled up at the home that the duke has provided for him and removes the reigns and saddle from his horse, leading it over to the stables. “You rest well Ezio. You have earned it after carrying me all this way” He says as he gently strokes the horse’s mane. Ezio whinnies and nuzzles against Leonardo’s hand before he trots over to his trough and starts to drink from it. Leonardo heads towards his new home taking in his surroundings. It is a simple house with plenty of land within its walls on the outskirts of the city. It’s much more peaceful then Leonardo expected the city to be and it is a perfect place to paint landscapes whenever he wants to relax. He pushes open the solid and well-crafted oak door to his new home to find a letter on the table beside the door.

It reads:

Dear Mr da Vinci

Duke Francesco Sforza sends his greetings. He has heard of your skills as an engineer, painter, designer of court festivals and, most notably, a sculptor and he has requested that you use your skills to sculpt a magnificent 16 foot-tall horse statue, in bronze, to honour himself and the prosperity he has brought to the city of Milan. This house called Casa Tranqui is yours until you have completed this statue and food will be delivered to your house as well as money to buy materials for the statue.

Regards

Ludovico Sforza

The following week passes quickly by as Leonardo familiarises himself with the city, finding the best places to buy materials, and the best places to relax from the tavern to the scholar’s academy, and places around the city from the plaza to the lake on the other side of the city. The last stop that he has planned to visit is an old clay shop that isn’t really talked about. He walks into the shop and looks around before spotting the shopkeeper. “Salve Signore (Hello Sir) I have been visiting shops around the city. Would you mind if I had a look at a sample clay that you sell? You don’t seem to have any in the shop front.” The shopkeeper looks him up and down before saying “You may have a look at my clay.” The shopkeeper goes into the back of the shop and comes out with a block of clay and he sets it on the counter letting Leonardo examine it. After a while Leonardo smiles, “This is some fine clay. Much better than what I have found in the other shops around the city. How much do you charge per rubio?” (A rubio is 10kg)

The shopkeeper checks his book before saying, “A rubio will cost about 14 florins” Leonardo checks his money bag. “ Can I purchase 7 blocks and get them brought to Casa Tranqui?” He asks as he adds an extra 10 florins. The shopkeeper counts the money. “That will not be a problem. It’s a pleasure doing business with you.” Leonardo holds out his hand for a handshake. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Leonardo da Vinci” The shopkeeper shakes Leonardo’s hand “I am Luigi Auditore. It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. da Vinci”

Over the next six years Leonardo works diligently on his project. During that time, he and Luigi continue to work together and eventually became best friends. One day, Luigi showed up at Leonardo’s door. “Leo my old friend, I have some news for you,” Luigi says with a grin. Leonardo invites him into the front room “Is this an occasion to get out the wine again?” Leonardo asks with a smile before Luigi holds up a bottle of an expensive red wine, “I brought this because the news deserves to be shared over a bottle of the finest wine you can buy in Milan.” Leonardo goes into the kitchen and comes back with two wine glasses before sitting beside Luigi. “So, what’s the news?” He asks curiously as Luigi fills both their glasses. Luigi says nothing and waits for Leonardo to take a sip of wine before he just simply smirks and holds up his right hand to show off an engagement ring. Leonardo starts to cough as the wine goes down the wrong way and once he sets down the glass. “Who the hell would want to marry a reprobate like you?” He asks with a cheerful tone.

Luigi grins. “Well my friend, did you ever meet Alessa Rici? She owns the pottery shop right next door to my store. If you haven’t then, you definitely will at the wedding because I need my best man by my side on the happiest day of my life." Leonardo thinks for a bit then says, “Of course I will be your best man, after all I don’t think you have any other friends. Well, except me and maybe the owner of the tavern. You two aren’t still mad at each other right?" He says before laughing. Luigi and Leonardo continue to drink and discuss wedding plans throughout the night. Leonardo agrees to paint a picture of Luigi and Alessa as a wedding present rather than letting some lesser artist paint and overcharge them.

A few weeks pass with Leonardo helping Luigi to plan the wedding to make the day as special as it could be. The night before the wedding Luigi showed up with a gift for Leonardo.

“For all your help and your friendship over the past six years, I want you to have this” Luigi hands Leonardo a sealed vase that’s about 15 inches tall. “This is a good luck charm that is said to bring happiness when it's opened at the lowest point of your life. I have found my happiness with Alessa and I hope that this will help you find yours.”

The next day is the day of the wedding. The weather was perfect as the sun shone over the Basilica of San Simpliciano. Leonardo spent the entire ceremony smiling as the happiness and joy in the room was infectious, both Alessa and Luigi were glowing with emotion while Leonardo was buzzing with excitement when he realises that he gets to capture this amazing moment with his wedding gift to the couple.

When the ceremony ends, Leonardo makes a quick sketch of Alessa and Luigi outside Basilica of San Simpliciano to paint later. Luigi pats Leonardo on the back “Maybe Alessa and I can set you up with a lovely lady soon. After all I think you could do with a beautiful muse of your own to paint.” Leonardo then laughs before he says, “Luigi my old friend, I have told you before. I am in love with this beautiful world and the marvellous things within it. God has given me my skills to spread the beauty the world has to offer. I could not ask more than that”

Leonardo wakes up with tears running down his cheeks, “Fuck! why must God **** me with these painful memories?" He asks while sitting up and looking at the night sky as bittersweet memories swirled around his mind. Memories of Alessa, Luigi and their son Marcello, So many joyous memories of being called Uncle Leo and being a part of their family over the past six years after that beautiful wedding that Leonardo had the honour to capture in his painting. There had been whispers and rumours around the city about an army approaching from the West. However, everyone in the city blew it off as just that, rumours. Leonardo told Luigi and his family if there was any truth to the rumours, should they need to flee, to go to Florence. Leonardo had a house and would help them to start a new life there.

It had been a month since Leonardo had to flee Milan after the French army invaded, the life that he had built in the 12 years while living in the city had been destroyed in moments. There was a glimmer of hope that Leonardo had clung onto, that he could rebuild that life. However, that dream was cruelly shattered after receiving a letter from Mario. It informed him of the **** of Luigi and his family during the invasion. The bittersweet memories of happier times had been constantly on his mind and were starting to take a toll on his mental health. His mind lingered and danced often on the very thought of ending it all, simply to lay his mind and these memories to rest.

Leonardo looks over to the wardrobe and thinks before he walks over to it, slowly opening the doors to reveal the sealed vase that Luigi gave him all those years ago. He gingerly lifts it and carries it to the windowsill. He stares at this simple vase as it bathes in the moonlight and starts to look at the wax seal. “I wonder what Luigi put in here?” He asked the empty room as he looks at the aged wax sealing the vase. He slowly walks to his studio and gets a chisel before he walks back to his room and delicately removes the wax. He takes a deep breath once the wax is removed and hesitantly removes the lid when the aroma of Luigi’s favourite wine fills his nose. This distinct smell makes Leonardo laugh. “Even now you are making me laugh, Luigi.” He says as tears openly run down his face.

The only sound in the room was Leonardo’s tears of grief splashing against the wine. This continues until there are no more tears left to shed. He smiles wistfully and looks up at the moon. “Thank you for making me laugh, my old friend." Leonardo leaves the vase on the windowsill. As he walks back to his bed, he hears what sounds like the quiet flow of running water. He turns slowly to the source of the sound. His eyes notice a small puddle of Luigi’s wine on the floor and a cherry pink foot standing in it. Leonardo's gaze slowly travels up the slightly transparent leg, running over her supple and plump looking thighs before resting on this creature's hourglass waistline with perfectly curvaceous hips. His gaze follows her dainty curves up to her perfectly round b-cup breasts, the perfect size for hands. A blazing heat emanated from his cheeks as he began to blush when his gaze moved higher, noticing the subtle beauties that only an artist can. The breath that he had not realised he was holding rushes to escape when his eyes met hers for the first time. The captivating amber eyes of this beautiful creature before him, the shade of a flawless sunset. At that moment, the only word he could think of was Bella.

As Leonardo goes to speak, he suddenly finds a soft warm hand over his mouth. “Don’t talk.” The creature whispers as she pulls him into a hug and holds him tightly. Leonardo’s mind races as he wonders if he had too much wine or if the grief had gotten to him. “I’m not going to hurt you nor am I an illusion, please just relax.” Or at least that’s what she wants to say. A thousand words could be said but nothing in that moment could mean more than a simple hug.