A/N: phew, that was long! I literally spent whole day on it. Worst of all, I suck at writing even more or less intimate scenes, but I hope you'll enjoy it!
Thanks to those who added this on their Alert List and who reviewed. You guys (girls? :D) keep me going!
And I just checked the story traffic and was amused at how many people read this. I legit thought there'd be like 2 or 3 of you, but I was glad I was mistaken! Come on, don't be shy, I need your critics so I can improve~ Besides, I don't have a beta reader yet _ So it's in your hands to make this story better!
Here we go! Fiora missed you too!
Chapter 7. Fratricide (Fiora).
I awake as if I was drowning and someone pulled me out, gasping for breath, my heart racing, my vision blurred, my thoughts distorted. I've had strange dreams while being in Rosa in Fiore, but this one takes the meaning of 'sick' on a whole new level.
Cardinal Cesare Borgia. In my room. At night. Ordering me to kill his brother, Juan Borgia, the Gonfalonier of the Church.
That's definitely not normal.
I look around and see my present – the fan – on the floor, unfold and feel even worse, if it is still possible.
That can mean only one thing. My sick dream was not dream, and Borgia really wants to turn me into a murderer. And worst of all is that if I say 'no', I'll end up on streets and, probably, in another brothel.
Nothing but bright prospects.
I exit my room to find Alba sitting by the window, cheerfully speaking to Arrigo, who is outside. When she hears the door creak, she turns around, smiles to me and points at the armchair. There I see a light blue dress. I can barely figure out what is going on, when I hear Arrigo's voice.
'Sorry to bother you, senorita Cavazza, but His Eminence Cesare Borgia requested your presence as soon as possible'.
I nod, but then I realize the guard cannot see me, and reply to him, 'Just give me a couple of minutes'.
Alba helps me with the dress, tying the corsage. It's a little bit difficult to breathe, but not impossible. I hope I won't faint. She then braids my hair and when I look in the mirror 'murderer' is the last word one can apply to me. I can only see a pale frightened girl staring at me.
Alba smiles and hands me to Arrigo. I nod at her, she bows and then we're on our way to the Castel.
Our whole walk is silent. I can't speak for all I want, and Arrigo obviously isn't paid to entertain me, but to ensure my safety only.
When I see a red silhouette at the entrance of the Castel I think I'm going to faint and not because of tight corsage or admiration or something like this. All I can do is to start whispering 'Padre nostro, che sei nei cieli…', but what good the prayer is when I am at the mercy of a man of the Church?
As we approach I notice another red silhouette, a little bit darker. I immediately know that Lucrezia is, as always, by her brother's side.
Holding my breath, I bow to them, avoiding looking at Cesare, but meeting Lucrezia's eyes only. She smiles and make a reverence in answer. From the corner of my eye I can see cardinal nodding.
Then he leads us into the Castel, into the same room where we were yesterday. Sometimes I can even recognize the path. I remember seeing this painting. I remember this sculpture. I remember at least something.
When I turn to take my place at the other side of the table, Cesare stops me and politely points at the chair across Lucrezia.
Several minutes pass in awkward silence, and then Lucrezia speaks up, smile never leaving her face.
'Cesare, have you heard news from our Father? Juan is coming back from Spain in a week, and father holds a holiday for him. Fiora… Your name is Fiora, right?', she turns to me and I nod. 'You still haven't met our brother Juan, right?'
'I would be honoured to meet the Gonfalonier of the Church', I reply, secretly wondering if Lucrezia knows something about Cesare's plans.
'I'm sure he will find you absolutely stunning', replies Cesare, coughing, and there is something about his words I don't like at all. 'And I would be absolutely delighted if you, la bella Cavazza, would accompany me to this holiday'.
'With great pleasure, Your Eminence', I bow my head. 'But I'm afraid that I will bring shame on you, for I am not a noble woman and I don't have manners of one'.
'I'm pretty sure my dear sister will turn you into a noble woman in no time. You'll find yourself that it's different to resist her', he parries and somehow I know better than to argue.
When Cesare leaves, Lucrezia smiles tiredly, 'I love my brother dearly. But I barely see him, for his cardinal duties are numerous. I have nothing to do and though I don't know what's so special about you, I'm really glad that you are here'.
I'm struck and only thing I can mutter is 'I'm honoured, Your Grace'.
But a moment later Lucrezia turns into her usual cheerful self and claps her hands, 'Come on, stand up. We are to make a young lady out of you!'
I hurry to stand up and catch up with her. For about a minute we go in silence, then Lucrezia turns around, lets me go forward and suddenly gently hits me with a rib of her palm. 'Back straight!'
I let out a 'hey!', but then I feel her hands pulling my shoulders back. 'A noble woman should be proud. You don't bow, you go straight and hold your head high! Understood?'
I nod, and Lucrezia is in front of me again, gesturing me to go forward. I take several steps and she starts laughing again. I blush. I've never felt that stupid in my whole life.
'You are like a doll!', she exclaims.
'What?'
'You walk like a doll. Like a wooden doll. It's like someone replaced your spine with a wooden stick and made you walk. Take smaller steps. You're not in a hurry. You're noble, they'll wait'.
It's a wonder, actually. In two days, Lucrezia is content with the way I walk. In five days, she nods at my dancing and whispers, 'Just follow the lead of your partner. The easiest way not to fail'.
I, however, grow scared more and more. Growing up, especially after being left alone, proved that I could hit someone. I was a fighter, but not a killer.
So when the day comes, I am in Castel Sant'Angelo again. Cesare orders his sister to make me fit for the holiday and disappears in corridors.
Preparation for the evening takes a couple of hours. One of Lucrezia's maids takes care of me, while others take care of the Borgia daughter. Sometimes Madonna Solari was making me pretty, when someone important was to come to Rosa in Fiore. But this time it takes twice as much time. The maid helps me to get into a dress of deep turquoise color, decorates my hair with matching ribbons. This time I don't look in the mirror, because I'm scared of what I can see there. Do I look like the one who can commit a murder?
I fix my fan at my belt and take a few deep breaths to steady myself.
We are met by Cesare at the gates. He greets his sister with his usual warm smile, embracing her. Then he looks at me and I swear his jaw would have dropped, had he been less self-contained. Instead, his lips part, he hesitates, coughs and compliments me, 'You truly live up to you name, Fiora Cavazza'.
I bow my head and make a reverence, this time it comes out natural and elegant. 'Thank you, Your Eminence'.
Cesare stretches out his arm to me and I come closer. He draws me closer to him and whispers, 'Juan must be dead by the end of night. I don't care how'. I feel chills running down my spine. There's no turning back now.
We arrive when the holiday is in full play. I go a little bit behind Cesare, never leaving his side. When the dance starts, he draws me to him again. Lucrezia already disappeared in the crowd and is nowhere to be seen.
Juan, quite on the contrary, can be found easily. If you see several girls around someone, twittering and giggling – there, you found him.
Now I only need to make a plan on how to get him alone and to get out of here.
After the first dance I excuse myself and hide in the corner. My fingers clutch the fan and I wave it in front of my face, trying to think clearly. That's when Lucrezia emerges from the crowd and approaches me.
'You're nervous', she whispers. 'Your knuckles are white and you look suspicious. At this rate you'll fail'.
My eyes widen in distrust and suddenly it's hard to breathe. She KNOWS!
'Return to Cesare', Lucrezia continues whispering. 'There is a spirit of competition between them, and Juan always wants what Cesare has. Look around', she opens her arms and I do look around. 'I bet Juan has slept with majority of girls here. You are new here and you are with Cesare. If Juan won't want you the moment he notices you, then I know nothing about him', with these words she gives me a gentle push. 'Go now'.
And that's when the plan finally forms in my head. I don't pray this time, for I am about to commit a sin.
I approach Cesare again and accept his invitation to the dance. But as we circle around, my eyes never leave Juan's shape.
And then he finally notices me. His eyes lock with mine, I smile and hide my face in Cesare's shoulder.
'He noticed us, huh?'
'Mm-hm'.
Lucrezia was right. Juan breaks free from the girls and advances us. He gives a smile to Cesare, then to me (I try my best to blush) and offers me his hand.
'Would you mind if I stole this beautiful young lady for a dance, brother?'
'Only if this beautiful young lady wishes so', replies Cesare, but hands me in to him either way.
Now I only need to portray a noble girl the best I can.
Juan dances me away from his brother, whispering compliments to me, some of them are quite dirty. I giggle, hide my face in his neck – I do everything to appear as innocent as I can. And judging by Juan's smug smile, I succeed.
Nobody seems to notice when he leads me away to Castel, to his chambers. 'Seems' being the key word. For all I know, Cesare and Lucrezia are counting down the last minutes of their brother's life.
Juan drags me inside and before I can move, slams the door close and pins me against it. His lips crush with mine, we both angle our heads to move closer, and kiss, kiss.
When we part I can only manage a weak 'Wait', get a hasty reply of 'Why?' and being drawn for another kiss.
Unexpectedly – even for me – I make a small noise, but Juan seems quite content with it. His lips move to my neck, which I bare in eager submission, he releases one of my hands to grab me by waist, my fingers tangle in his hair.
My thoughts are in haze and for a moment I forget what I am doing and what I am supposed to do.
'My brother told me that a beautiful Fiora Cavazza is to be present at this holiday', Juan whispers, biting my ear. 'But you exceed all my expectations'.
At this words my mind clears a little bit, and when one Juan's hand grips my hip and he starts undoing my corset I suppose he's got enough.
My hand flies to the fan at my belt. With one swift movement I unfold it and draw an upward facing line across Juan's neck. Razors draw blood and several drops fall on the wall.
Juan gasps and tries to close the wound with his hand, but it's all in vain.
He can only mutter a quiet 'You…' before he's coughing violently and chokes on his own blood.
It is an ugly death. It definitely can't be mistaken for a sleep.
The harsh reality hits back again. I realize what I have just done, drop my fan on the floor and fall onto my knees. My hand gently touches Juan's cheek and I remember that I, I, had no reason to take his life.
Maybe I should cry now, but tears just don't come.
So here I am, half naked, my hands trembling, my hands in blood up to my elbow when I hear the sound of clapping.
Cesare stands in the door, his face unreadable, and applauds me. Beside him I see a figure of a man, tall, dressed in black.
'Bravissimo, Fiora', praises Cesare. His companion comes to Juan's body, sits, at touches his neck, checking for a pulse. A foolish act.
'Clear work', he breaths out. His voice is hoarse, broken.
'Lead her out of here', orders Cesare. 'She definitely can't appear like this at the front door of the Castel, Micheletto'.
Micheletto. Cesare's personal hound.
'As you wish, Your Eminence', replies Micheletto, grabs me by hand and leads me somewhere.
Before leaving, I cast last glance at Cesare and feel my insides covering with ice.
I don't know for sure if Cardinal was a holy man, but the smile I saw that moment could not belong to anyone, but to Devil himself.
'Padre nostro, che sei nei cieli…'
