Downstairs, the Borgia family were assembled around a grand oak table in the dining hall. The wood was covered with fresh fruits, seasoned meats, and tediously countless deserts. Nothing less was expected for the dinner of Pope Alexander. A young girl, probably Joffre's age, was in the corner of the room, leaning up against the smooth cobblestone wall to tune her violin. Servants rushed in and out, filling the glasses with wine when they grew empty. It was a cheerful moment. His Holiness was seated at the furthermost end of the long table, in a great chair of red satin. Joffre was to his left, next to his wife Sancia, laughing and grinning at the jokes passed around the banquet. And none other than Giulia Farnese, the shining ruby of His Holiness, was seated next to the Pope, winking and kissing Rodrigo Borgia's fingers.
"...And I told him, my dear boy," Rodrigo laughed, leaning to ruffle Joffre's dark brown curls, "to bring me the fattest cow in all of Italy, that we could feast upon in pleasure. I did not think he would bring his wife!" Laughs echoed out all throughout the grand hall as the wine glasses were refilled.
At the same time, upstairs in Lucrezia's loft, a shadow swept over her. Screeching giddily, she kicked and thrashed to free herself. Dark chuckles rang out and a strangely soft hand covered her mouth. Lucrezia breathed heavily as her heart pounded in her chest. Cesare moved his hand to let her breathe. "Must you run away again from me? Or can we join them downstairs?" He pretended to sound annoyed, and Lucrezia flicked him with her index finger. "I'm not hungry, brother." She said, and tried to stand up, breaking her brother's grip on her shin. Hurriedly, she opened the curtains of her balcony again, letting light flood the room. Cesare strode over to her and bent his head so that he stared directly down at her. This was one of the many times he enjoyed taking advantage of their height difference. His dark, almost black eyes looked into hers, and he had a smirk on his face. Lucrezia stood defiantly up against him, staring back, blue scorching black. "Don't make me force you, Lucrezia," he warned, ever so slowly moving his face downwards to rest his forehead against hers. "I'm starving. I just might have to eat you if you keep me here." He grinned as Lucrezia inhaled sharply. Her eyes had somehow shut somewhere between him resting his forehead on her, and the intoxicating scent of his leather clothes. He was everywhere, clouding her mind. "Don't..." Lucrezia started, hearing her voice wobble for an unknown reason. "Don't be so silly. You aren't that evil." She mumbled softly. Cesare froze, entranced for a slight moment.
He moved his hand to stroke her neck, the soft skin feeling angelic under his fingers. Then, he swiftly picked her up bridal-style, as if she weighed nothing. Her eyes fluttered open and she giggled in protest. "No, brother! Stop, this is embarrasing." She groaned and Cesare simply walked out of her room, carrying her gently despite her moving. "Be quiet, sis. You'll be more embarrassed if the entire hall were to see you crying like a little baby." He sighed, watching her frown at his comment. "I am not a baby! You're just a muddy dog." she pouted. Cesare narrowed his eyes at her and lifted her to his chest so that he once again towered over her face. "A muddy dog?" He faked hurt. Lucrezia wasn't moved, and she raised her eyebrows. Cesare gazed at her mischievously, and chuckled deeply, turning his eyes back to the hall in front of them. Lucrezia sighed as he carried her, staring up at him. She suddenly turned her head and kissed his bicep. Cesare glanced down at her, tightening his grip on her thighs. "You're not a muddy dog. I suppose I was acting childish." she murmured, leaving her lips on his warm skin. Her brother half-smiled and kissed her hair as the two walked into the dining hall.
He set her down as they made their ever occuring entrance. Cesare, always with Lucrezia. Lucrezia, always with Cesare. It was nothing new for the family. His Holiness spotted them at the dining hall's door, and beckoned them in. There was lively music playing and many people danced around the great room. Lucrezia, checking her appearance, smoothed out her ruffled teal dress and fixed her hair swiftly, paying no mind to Cesare sighing at her. "You don't need to worry about your appearance, sis," he murmured in her ear as he led her into the hall. "..you're always striking." He winked at her and she tried to not smile at her brother's charms. She linked her arm with his and they walked to the banquet. Lucrezia turned to Cesare and smiled fleetly, before running to kiss His Holiness' cheek as Cesare took his seat. "There she is!" Rodrigo smiled as his daughter ran to him. Giulia beckoned her over to kiss her forehead. "Now that you are here, we can finally start the actual feast." she laughed. Lucrezia smiled happily, and then turned back to Cesare. He already had a glass full of wine and he was drinking it as she came up to sit by him. She knew how Cesare could easily become intoxicated. "Cesare, don't drink too much tonight, promise me?" She stroked his hand as he set his chalice down to protest. "Sister, it's a party. Pray tell me when the last time you actually had fun was." His eyes burned into hers, and she gazed back. Defiantly, he lifted his chalice to her lips. Not taking her eyes off him, Lucrezia drained the goblet. Cesare felt a shock of sudden arousal, and he dropped the cup to the floor as his mind forgot to hold onto it. It clattered loudly and drew the attention of several visitors, but they simply forgot in a moment's time. Lucrezia jumped at the loud noise and covered her mouth with her hand as she saw the mess on the floor. Servants quickly moved to clean the spilled wine. Cesare stared blankly at a fork on the table, trying not to blink, trying not to envision Lucrezia again moments before. The others at the table heard the goblet drop and Rodrigo frowned as he saw Cesare's catatonia. Lucrezia noticed too, and touched his arm. He was still. "Cesare? Brother, tell me what is wrong." She said, turning her full attention on him. He simply stared at the table, feeling agitated and aroused at once. Lucrezia groaned softly and touched his chin to turn his gaze on her. Cesare had no control, she was the one with the power. And there she was, when he finally looked at her again, differently this time. That face. That body. Lucrezia tried stroking his cheek to make him talk to her, becoming even more concerned with each passing second. "I need to leave, sis." Cesare finally said, watching Lucrezia frown slightly. He stood, feeling pressure and heat in his entire body. He felt feverish, almost burning as he stepped out into the empty hallway that was dimly lit with candles. He decided to take off a layer of his leather apparel, his vest. He pressed his back to the cool stone wall and sat on a bench nearby. There was a stained glass painting of a dove at the eastern wall, lit by the moon. He looked at the beautiful colors and details, trying to take his mind off of Lucrezia. It was in vain, though, because she walked into the hall alone and worrying. She finally saw him and ran to him, kneeling by the bench. Cesare stared at her in defeat. "Cesare..." she tried to ask him why he was acting the way he was, but she was cut off. For his hands slid around her body and in her hair, behind her neck, and his mouth met hers in a milisecond. He couldn't think, he couldn't do anything but love her at that moment, when he finally realized the truth of his feelings. Lucrezia felt a shockwave pass through her as their lips met, and she couldn't grasp reality. She froze like ice as her brother's carresses slowed and his mouth lost all force, trailing kisses on her neck as he tried to catch his breath. "...Lucrezia," he breathed, "Sis, forgive me. I have sinned against you." He felt burning tears form in his eyes, but they never fell. They blinded and clouded his vision and he could not face her. He would not. Lucrezia felt dazed, almost faint as she felt her brother panting on her shoulder. She tried to still herself from shaking, and she braced her body on the bench. "..Goodnight, brother." she said, trying to flee from the scene. Her legs shook as she ran from him, feeling her chest convulse as tears flooded her face and sobs wrecked her body. She couldn't find words to describe the emotions she felt. She stumbled and tripped on the stairs on her way up the long hall.
Cesare was on his hands and knees on the floor. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think of anything to fix the mess he made. He stood, wiping tears from his eyes, and put his vest back on. He checked the sides of his hips for his weapon sheaths. Still there, each holding a sharp dagger. He had decided on a whim, in the spur of the confusion, to leave the girl he loved. He felt numb, and he was grateful for that. He couldn't ride in the dark with the feeling of his chest being torn apart. Making his way out the kitchen's back door, the servants moved out of his path in fear of how dangerous he looked at me moment. He was finally outside, with the Italian gusts drying the tears on his face, blowing through his hair. He sprinted down a dirt path from the Vatican. He flew past the markets and spotted a bay horse tied to a post near one of the shops. The marketplace was empty, so he decided to take it. It had no saddle, but it didn't matter to him. He swung himself up onto the steed, trying to calm it by stroking its mane and gathering the reins of its ragged bridle. He kicked its belly, sending it into a rear and making it charge forward. Years of horseriding trained him to stay seated as the beast moved with incredible speed. He flew past the gates of Rome, trying to not look back even though it felt as if a chain was stuck in his heart, harnessing him to Lucrezia. It had always been like that, only not so devastating as it was now. The horse bellowed and snorted as it galloped past the buildings outside of the city he had always known as his home. It was only until he was miles away that the full impact of his decision overtook him. He crumpled against the horse's neck and the beast slowed, out of breath. Lucrezia, Lucrezia, Lucrezia. Cesare fell from the animal, hitting a sharp rock with his head as the world spun and his heart screamed in anguish. He watched the stars as everything faded to black.