The clouds gradually parted creating a peep hole allowing the glow of the morning sun to penetrate the hazy mist. "After every storm comes the sun" Cesare thought as he opened his eyes to sunbeams warming his face. How many times had he heard his sister say that saying when they were children? He smiled at the thought of Lucretzia. How like his darling sister to remind him how beautiful the simple things in life were.
Yawning, he stretched popping his neck that had grew stiff during long night's slumber. Simple things, he mentally muttered turning his thoughts to Friar. He knew she thought he had feared embarrassment from the people of Rome by abandoning her as a stranger the day before. He regretted his rash actions now. She had been so frightened by the bandit only to be hurt by Cesare's neglect and she was hurt, he was sure of it by the torn look in her eyes as he fled the scene.
He smirked out loud. Why should he care about a peasant's feelings? But he did care. At first he thought the attraction to Friar had only been physical. She was uniquely stunning, a rare and natural beauty for Rome. Any male who desired females in an intimate manner would yearn to sample her flawless body. But as the weeks past, he realized it was more than physical attraction that drew him to Friar. It seemed he retired for bed every night and awoke every morning with his thoughts upon her. He knew without a doubt that he held deeper feelings than physical lust plaguing him. And the truth bothered him. His position in life was only momentary, one day he planned to leave the church and seize power. The idea of Emperor was not an unrealistic goal. With his father as Pope and by the peoples' fear, there were no limits to all he could conquer. Of course Juan would stand in his way, but that was another bother for another time. Now he had to contemplate on what to do about Friar. He wanted her and until he had enjoyed her body, he would not know if his feelings were genuine.
Jumping to his feet, he called for one of the morning servants to fill his bath. First things first, he would visit Friar and make her his before he made any decisions about his heart. Of course he could not marry while serving the church and even after he left the church, he still could not and would not marry a peasant. But like his father had done to his mother as many people in power do, he could make Friar his mistress. Knowing how she regarded morality, she would balk at such a sinful notion, but he had a way with women. He would get what he wanted.
After an energetic day of sunshine, the clouds crept back and blanketed the sky, motionless and heavy with unfallen rain. A moist wind carried the scent of a distant rain slashing through the dark forest. Friar snuggled the covers around her neck, missing the charming sounds of the hoot owls and crickets. They had often lulled her to sleep but tonight, like her, they hide from the approaching storm.
Suddenly dishearten she sighed, how pathetic that her only companions were forest dwellers. Sure people from the city and outer lying farms sometimes paid her a visit, but only when they needed something like medicine or charms, never just to say hello. But that could have changed and she had no one to blame but herself. Cesare had offered her a new home and in that home would have come a new life; a new life that would have been filled with people, a new life that included nights with Cesare. At that, she giggled softly. She vividly recalled how terrified she had been during her first encounter with the Borgian Brothers, but Cesare had made amends, he had shown her a different side of himself. He could be passionate and kind. He had tried to reward her. He had also saved her life. Sure, he had a vile reputation and she believed every word of it, that he could behave as a tyrant but she also believed there existed a good side to him, a side that he probably only revealed to those close to him. But she knew it was there, she had felt it.
She had been blessed with an internal sight, like her mother, she could read a person's soul. In Cesare, she had felt two souls; one good, the other evil. It was up to him which one conquered the other. But his brother Juan was a different story, she had only sensed one and that one was utter evil. There was no help for Juan. He had hurt many in his young life and before his time was finished upon this earth, he would cause much more pain and heartbreak for many. Juan was his own worst enemy; he would lead to his own demise. People like that always did.
The twisting of a branch caused Friar's senses to pounce. Normally, such night sounds did not bother her as the woods were full of night creatures who hunted and played at night, but whoever made that sound was not an animal, it was human. The storm had frightened all the wildlife into hiding. Only human beings ignored the warnings of Mother Nature and ventured into the dangers of stormy nights.
Jumping to her feet, she wrapped her chilled body in a robe and blew out the candle so that who ever was out there could not see her silhouette through the curtains.
"There is no use in hiding from me, little witchy. I know that you are in there."
Friar's heart sank like an anchor instantly recognizing the voice; Juan Borgia!
She froze knowing that her lock would not keep him out if he wanted to get in. He had already proved that.
"Why must you make me do these things?" Juan growled and kicked the lock off the door and entered. Friar screamed and ran behind a chair extending a fire poker as a weapon.
"Leave!" she hissed, careful to keep her voice from reflecting fear. Men like Juan thrived on fear.
Juan slammed the door. Smiling condescendingly, he scanned Friar's upper body. Ringlets spiraled down to her waist, her eyes sparkled with fear; she was breathtaking.
"Why must we play these games?"
Griping the poker with such fierce hostility that her fingers had beamed red, she snapped back "I am not playing a game with you. If you come near me, I will kill you."
Juan burst in a deep sarcastic laughter as if she had said something hilarious. Eyeing her overly full lips, he snapped, "That is what I want. I want you to fight me!"
Before she could react, he lunged at her. She slung the poker as hard as she could, but he caught it in mid-swing and ripped it from her hands, flinging the iron object across the cottage. Shoving the chair into his groin, she tried to flee but was not fast enough. He caught her, slapped her in the face, and then caught her fall before she hit the floor. With adrenalin strength, he tossed her on the bed and straddled her.
Friar flayed and raked her nails against the assault as best she could. Juan was more agile and a lot bigger than she. Juan laughed during the chauvinist pursuit. She was doing exactly what he wanted. When he grew tired of the game, he seized her hands and pinned them above her head.
Friar's reflection grew murderous. Mentally, she cursed him. He was going to rape her and there was nothing she could do about it. Even afterwards, there was nothing she could do about the crime. She had no rights against a man like Juan. He could do anything to her and no one would care or punish him.
Juan captured her eyes and held her glare. Her eyes were wide spitting with anger, her lips in a childish pout. Darkly amused, he lowered his face and inhaled her fresh scent. She had probably just bathe and her intimate threshold would be just as clean. Smiling perversely, he had a cure for that, before the end of the night she would be so full of his male nectar that she would not be able to free herself of his odor for days.
"I am going to hurt you. You know that, don't you?"
Friar turned her face away, refusing to look into the devil's eyes. Feeling degraded and worthless, tears glistened in the corner of her eyes. There was no hope now. What would happen would happen and fighting him would only aroused him. She could feel his manhood pressing against her crotch. He was large and fully erect; he would tear her into shreds and enjoy every minute of her agony. He wasn't like Cesare, he did not desire mutual ecstasy, he lusted for her pain. Then suddenly realization hit her; Cesare!
"You cannot hurt me as much as your brother did."
Friar's heart jolted with joy as Juan's smile melted. She even felt his organ soften a bit.
"What do you mean?"
Defiance filled her eyes, a cunning smile tugged at her lips as she replied in a jeer, "Cesare came here a few days back and he took me. At first, I fought him and then I could not fight my own lust, I took him just as primitive as he took me."
An atrocious expression blanketed Juan's face, snarling like a mad dog, he backhanded her repeatedly.
"Bitch! Whore! Slut!" he bellowed, rage gleaming in his eyes.
Friar felt her neck pop, but that was nothing compared to the sting of her facial flesh. Despite the physical pain, her inner self smiled, she had torn the joy from Juan's assault. He was still going to rape her, she had no doubt, but now he would not enjoy it as much.
"Friar!" Cesare shouted from the distance. Juan stopped and listened. They could hear his horse reining in. He had probably found Juan's horse in the forest and began to call for Friar knowing that his brother was lurking nearby.
Friar peered deep into Juan's eyes and smiled. "He won't let you rape me now."
Juan shook his head, but she could tell that he was not sure of himself. "He wont help you. My brother will not go against his own for the sake of a peasant slut. Instead, he will join me and we will rip you into pieces so that no man will even be able to make use of your cunt!"
Juan ripped open her robe, tearing the front of her nightgown open.
Gallant as a knight, Cesare kicked the door open thinking there was a lock still on it. He lunged in and plowed into Juan, knocking him from the bed and on to the floor.
Friar leaped to her feet and backed into a corner trying to cover her breast with the torn nightwear as the brothers brawled in her floor. She yipped when they began to smash into her furnishings and break things that had been in her family for generations.
Now panting and sweating, Juan shoved Cesare backwards and spat blood from his mouth. "For a whore you turn on your own blood!"
Cesare fisted Juan back to the ground and spat "For myself! You done this! You only want her because I want her!"
Juan lurched at him and once more the brothers thrashed and finished tearing Friar's tiny cottage to pieces. Finally, Juan had had enough and singled for surrender. Cesare released him. For a few minutes that seemed like eternity to Friar, Juan used his hands against the cottage wall to support his body weight and tried to catch his breath. Finally, he rose and walked toward the door, over his shoulder he grunted, "You can have her for the time being…"
Friar stepped forward after Juan disappeared into the foggy night. "What did he mean for the time being?"
Cesare knew full well what his malicious brother had implied. Lying, he smiled, "Nothing. He was just blowing off steam. It is over now. No harm will come to you."
He fell into a chair as if extremely tired making Friar feel shallow for being only concern with her own welfare when he was bruised and bleeding on her behalf. She rushed to his side with a cloth and dabbed at his wounds. "I am sorry. Are you hurt?"
As if to answer her question, he chuckled. "No, my love, I have endured worse."
Friar finished clearing his wounds and asked "My love? Only a yesterday you did not know me?"
"No more games between you and me." Cesare now sounding serious as he pulled her into his lap. "I panicked in the market not because of the peoples' opinion of me, but because I did not want Juan to know of your value to me. As you can see from what just happened why I would not want him to know."
"I am sorry for my words and misinterpretation. I understand and I thank you for saving me twice now. I am most grateful."
Cautiously, she bent her head and softly kissed his lips as a child would kiss their father. He smiled enchanted by her puerile nature.
"Your brother had said that to me. He said no more games as if I wanted him."
"My brother thinks every woman, and even some men, desire him." Cesare joked. "But my implication is the truth. I want you and you want me."
Friar suddenly feared the seriousness in the direction of the conversation and bashfully glance away afraid to meet his eyes.
Cesare turned her face back to him. "Do not fear me."
"I do not want to be made a whore."
Cesare sighed. "I will not lie to you. I cannot marry you. I cannot promise you the moon and the stars either. I can have any woman I want. You are a smart girl, Friar, you know this. When I say I want you and only you, I mean it. I can put you in a mansion, a castle even. I will be with you ever chance I get. Even without a marriage, you will be mine in every way."
Friar's heart began to pound in her ears with a whirl of confusion fogging her mind. "Thank you for being honest. I respect that but I am overwhelmed. I feel one way, but my mind tells me to ignore my heart's emotions. I just do not know what to do or how to feel. You threatened to burn me at the stake once and now you want me to banish my pride and become your mistress."
Cesare kissed her lips softly and then again on her forehead. "Do not decide tonight, not after what you have been through. Go to your bed and sleep. Rest peacefully knowing that I will be in this chair protecting you as you sleep."
Friar stood and started to walk away, but stopped and pulled Cesare from the chair.
"Rest with me."
Cesare gladly accepted her invitation. He held her all through the night, but nothing more. This night she needed to think, not be influenced to a decision based on love making.