"My Body Is A Cage" is one of my favorite songs and it's perfect for... Juan! Yes, I know it say "the one I love", but I'm pretty sure it's about addictions and about insecurities and stuff. Anyways, here it goes:

I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
-Arcade Fire

Chapter 23
August 11th 1498

The room was filled with light spilling from the many open windows, their light, thin curtains blowing calmly in the wind. For a nursery, it was rather big. It was filled with the same light curtains that graced the windows, thin enough so that you could see right through them. There were even two plush chairs. Other than that, there was only the large crib, over which Lucrezia stood bent. She was muttering in a low voice, calming down the little boy who had just awoken.

While she spoke to her son, Jane observed Cesare more closely. He was standing by the door, talking in a hushed voice with Micheletto. Jane knew what she needed to know; that they were talking about how best to get out Savonarola's confession. She wasn't surprised that Cesare wanted to partake in the torture. From what she had heard, the prisoner's ramblings had grown tiresome for Cesare on their way home from Florence.

"You have not seen Giovanni in a long time," Lucrezia said, turning Jane's attention away from the men. She was cradling the baby, who had grown much larger since Jane had last seen him, and he was making small sounds. Jane stepped closer to the two of them while Cesare dismissed Micheletto and walked over to his sister.

"No, I have not." Jane reached out a finger and the boy's little hand instantly curled around it. With a smile, she moved her finger up and down, amused as she watched his eyes follow the movement dumbfounded. Lucrezia laughed.

Cesare pressed a lip against Lucrezia's temple, resulting in her smile widening. "He looks like you, sis."

"I thought I could find you here," a rough voice said from the door. Juan was leaned against the doorframe, his eyes even redder than last time Jane had seen him. Lucrezia quickly walked over to the crib and gently put her son down. "Don't put the child away, sis. You know how much I love little babes."

Cesare sighed, walking forward and placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Juan, I am going to take you to your chambers." Juan made a sound of protest but was cut short. "You need to sleep. You are drunk."

Juan pushed away Cesare's hands. "Don't tell me what to do," he spat as he began staggering across the room. "I want to see my nephew. My bastard sister's bastard son. Is there anything but bastards in this family?"

Lucrezia successfully pushed her older brother away when he came too close. "No. Not when you have wine on your breath." It took her a couple of more pushed before he managed to make his way around her. She grabbed his upper arm nonetheless and yanked. "Leave," she hissed, her voice becoming hoarse as well. "Brother, please, leave."

Juan shrugged her off, reaching both hands into the crib. A single tear had escaped Lucrezia's eyes as she kept lashing out at her brother's back. "I just want to see the little boy who ruined our family's name."

With hurried steps, Cesare walked over the floor and pulled Juan back by the arm. "That's enough," he growled. "Leave now. You can see Giovanni in the morning."

They stood, staring into each other's eyes for a moment. Lucrezia had begun sobbing, even if she tried to keep them soundless. Her shoulders shook with the trembles that she only just managed to keep to a minimum. Finally, Juan stepped down. "If you wish to defend our whore sister, then fine." He backed off and left the room, but the rest of the people standing in there didn't move.

After what seemed like an eternity, Jane finally spoke. "I shall leave you now."

Lucrezia didn't seem to react at all, probably because she was working too hard on keeping her composure. Cesare nodded and Jane left the room, careful to close the door, only leaving a crack open. Despite a part of her telling her to leave them alone, she stopped outside the door and leaned against its hard surface.

When she got a proper view, Lucrezia had faltered. She was sitting in one of the chairs, a hand covering her face and its elbow resting on the armrest. Silent tears fell as her entire body shook. Cesare appeared from a place in the room that Jane couldn't see and knelt before her. Gently, he removed the hand covering her face and took both of hers into both of his. After pressing a kiss onto each of them, he said in a voice so low that Jane could only hear it because she was a vampire. "It will be alright, sis. I promise you."

"This should be my home." Lucrezia avoided Cesare's gaze as she spoke. "But it does not feel like it."

"I will not let anyone or anything harm you, you know that." Cesare's fingers now caressed her face, making her lean into his touch.

"Will our family ever know piece?" Her eyes flickered around, looking for something to console her, her gaze finally landing on Cesare's face. "Happiness?" Her fingers found his hair and clutched it tightly.

Cesare swallowed deeply. "Hearts may yet be broken." His voice was hoarse, so full of emotion. "But not yours. Never again yours."

Lucrezia stood up and walked over to one of the windows. Jane had to move to once more be able to see her. Soon after, Cesare stood up and followed. When he reached her, his arms wrapped around her body as easily as anything. After a moment or two, Lucrezia turned in his arms, fiddling with the knots and ties of his shirt. When she looked up at Cesare, her eyes were filled with uncertainty. "Do you love me?"

Cesare laughed low in his throat. "Do you remember the promise I made you when you married Giovanni Sforza?"

Lucrezia pulled away a littler, her hands still on his chest. "You would bring me his heart."

"I am afraid I have failed to do so. I searched, but I found none." Lucrezia smiled a small smile, pressing her cheek against his chest, right between her hands. "I brought you another one instead." She pulled away instantly, looking at him questioningly. "I have always loved you, sis, but now my heart is yours. Unconditionally. I am yours."

A tear trickled down Lucrezia's cheek and Cesare's hand came up to wipe it away. "I wish we could run away, my love." Her hands were tracing patterns on the fabric that covered his chest. "For I shall never love my husband as I love you."

"I thought you liked Alfonso," Cesare whispered, his neck bent forwards and his face close to her ear.

"I do. I love him." Lucrezia turned her face to look into his darkened eyes. "But he will never be you." Then she pressed her lips against his, lightly, almost sisterly. "I can never feel safe without you." Cesare's hand cradled Lucrezia's neck as their lips met again, this time much less like the way siblings' would. Jane backed away from the door, shocked. Feeling as though she had seen something she shouldn't have, she hurried down the halls without looking back.

Lucrezia didn't return home that night. Jane could only guess why, which she tried not to. Giulia, too, was gone. Only when it was so late that no one would think of disturbing her sleep did she dare to leave the house for hunting purposes. It was easy enough to find the right homeless. He didn't see what was coming before he lay dead, drained on the ground. It had been a clean kill so Jane felt safe walking though the streets of Rome. She was on her way out onto a bridge when she saw two other well-known figures making their way towards her.

Cesare and Juan were walking, talking to each other. Juan didn't appear to be very drunk, but neither did he seem sober. He was staggering slightly. As she disappeared into the shadows again, Jane listened closer to their voices. "…for our family's safety," she heard Juan slur.

"You are drunk, brother," Cesare dismissed.

"Not that drunk. And even a drunker could see, all that you do is for the sake of the family." He seemed to think his statement over. "Or for the sake of our sister."

"Two things that are often the same."

Juan laughed. "Not when it comes to her child."

Cesare stopped, waiting for Juan to realize this and walk back those few steps that he had taken before speaking. "You are right. I do value our family." Juan looked at his brother with interest. "That is why I wished to see you tonight."

Just then, Jane saw Micheletto creep up behind them. He was bent over, walking silently towards the two brothers. Cesare's right hand cradled the back of Juan's neck, pulling him closer. "For the sake of family." And just as the last syllable rolled off his tongue, a blade appeared in his hands. Without a second though, Cesare jammed the blade into Juan's stomach. Juan let out a drowning sound as Cesare pulled out the knife and pushing it back inside.

"I'm sorry," Cesare whispered, sounding as though he meant it. "The world has never been good to you."

"The world is never good." Juan's voice was forced and blood spilled across his lips. His hand found his brother's shoulder, supporting his weight against it. "I suppose our rivalry can finally end."

Lifelessly, Juan's body fell fully against Cesare's. Micheletto ran out of the shadows and grabbed Juan's shoulders before pushing his body out of the bridge. When he spoke, Jane had already run out of hearing range.

The news reached the Vatican next day. Jane was in a meeting with the Pope, who had sent out several guards to search the city's brothels for his missing son. When one group returned, grey-faced and stumbling over their words, it was obvious to anyone that something was wrong.

"Did you find him, then?" Rodrigo said as he leaned back in his chair. Unconsciously, Jane straightened her back in anticipation for the inevitable words.

"Yes, Your Grace." Jane's hand clenched around the wood of her armchair as the man continued speaking. "I am so sorry, Your Grace." He wetted his lips with his tongue, buying some time. "He is dead."

The silence that followed was dangerous. There was an edge to it that made everyone in the room afraid of moving, in case the silence would cut them. In the end, the Pope was the only one who could break it. "Leave us," he said simply. The guards were quick to leave, their armors clinging with the uncomfortable sound of metal against metal as they disappeared down the hall. With uncertain eyes, Jane looked at the man who, for the first time, looked as old as he was.

Jane realized that he'd aged; his skin was wrinkled, even more so by the hand that his head rested in and he was pale. His eyes stood out, brown and deep, from the grey skin and hair; even his lips seemed paled by age. The white cloak that he wore no longer suited him, no longer brought out the vitality that he had once held despite of his age.

"You too."

His voice sent a shock through her body. "Holy Father…" She trailed off.

"You heard me," he growled. "Leave."

Jane didn't waste any time after that. She stood up and left as quickly as the soldiers had, closing the door behind her. As she rested her back against the wall beside the doorway, her eyes closing as realization hit her, she had to stop herself from listening in on what went on behind the wall. She knew what she'd hear already.

After a while, she knew she had to leave. It wasn't until she was in the privacy of her own room that she realized how sad she was.

The funeral was held a week later. The holy family had retreated to privacy, closing everyone else out. Jane was counted among 'everyone else', and so was Micheletto. Therefore, the first time Jane had the possibility to meet Alfonso, Lucrezia's betrothed, was at the funeral.

It was a private affair – exactly the opposite of what Juan would have wanted, Sancha had said, but Juan was dead and so it became as his family wanted it to be. As his family needed it to be. There were already rumors travelling the entire continent, about how Juan had died. Some of them came painstakingly close to the truth; a fact that was obvious in Cesare's eyes.

When the burial was over with, a feast was held in the private quarters of the Pope. Even though some cardinals made their appearance – Jane noted that Ascanio hadn't – it was mostly the friends and family of Juan.

At the sound of someone approaching, Jane turned her head in time to see Lucrezia walking towards her. Beside Lucrezia, a handsome man, though not very tall, with dark curls and skin was walking. "Alfonso, this is Giovanna," Lucrezia introduced. "She is a dear friend of mine."

"It is an honor to meet you, Giovanna." Jane noticed nothing out of the ordinary about how the man spoke or how he stood, apart from the fact that he seemed sincere. At the same time, Jane didn't think he'd make a good actor, so he was a puzzling character. "I know that my betrothed chooses her friends with great care."

Jane wanted to retort in a more aggressive way, make him know that more people than just Cesare were keeping an eye on him but remembering what Lucrezia had said about loving him, she settled for a more civilized answer. "I am honored to be counted among them. As, I am sure, you are honored to be gifted with her beauty."

Alfonso smiled, maybe a bit awkwardly. "She is the most beautiful woman I have seen." When he turned to look at Lucrezia, his smile turned more affectionate.

Jane nodded, not knowing what else to do. "You must excuse me," she apologized before walking past them. At the other end of the room, Cesare was talking to another cardinal. When he saw her approaching, he moved away from the cardinal. She'd never seen him before so it seemed strange for him to be there.

"Who was that?" Jane nodded her head to the man – a boy, she realized – who was mingling with other now.

"Funny you should ask," he said, his voice not humored at all. "That was Alessandro Farnese."

Gasping, Jane sought for him in the crowd. "He is a cardinal? Already?"

Smirking, Cesare nodded his head. "My father is not one to waste his time, is he?"

"That would be a shame to say," she agreed.

"So," he began, pausing to sip from the glass of wine that he was holding, "You have met Alfonso. What do you think of him?"

"Boring." Jane smiled at him and he returned it. "I think that makes him safe."

"He does not deserve Lucrezia." Something about the way he said it made it feel like it wasn't an objection to the marriage.

For a moment, Jane didn't know what she should say. "I know, but he loves her. In a way, I think she loves him too."

Cesare nodded, somehow forced. "I know. He has 'all the sweetness of an apple'." It was clear that those weren't his own words.

"I am sure he does." Cesare had to stifle a laugh at her slightly mocking tone. "But I am equally sure that the rest of Naples can't hold the same sweetness."

He stopped laughing immediately. "I will not let anyone harm her."

Jane shook her head. "I know that you will do anything in your power to keep her safe and happy." She smirked slightly. "And between us, not much is outside of your power."

Cesare laughed, shrugging. "You are true about at least one of those things."

When their laughter had stilled, Jane returned to a more serious mood. "How goes it with the interrogation of Savonarola?"

Cesare cleared his throat. "Well. He is close to spilling. Micheletto is down there now."

Raising an eyebrow, Jane said, "I am surprised that he is still alive."

"He hasn't always been." Jane furrowed and tilted her head in question. "All that needs to be said is that Micheletto contacted a man who… is a master in resurrection." With a little 'ah', Jane nodded her head. "He has died… four times by now. He should tire of it soon."

She smiled in understanding. "What will his punishment be?"

"That is up to the Holy Father to decide."

Jane nodded. They continued talking for a while until he had to go speak with his sister. To Jane's surprise, Sancha approached her at the end of the evening. As beautiful as Sancha was, that night, she was a mess. Her eyes had large bags underneath them and her dark skin seemed paled, as though she was going to be sick. Her voice had been slightly slurred when she complained about how Juan's wife hadn't come to her own husband's funeral and about what a disgrace it was to Juan's memory that they held such a funeral. When Sancha had left, Jane felt like the only reason she had spoken to her was that they didn't know each other too well.

When Jane left the party, she entered the St. Peters on her way home. Juan's coffin was still there. He wasn't to be buried like anyone else; he was to have his place in the family crypt. Jane was surprised to see, though, that the coffin hadn't been closed.

When she walked over to the coffin, she could look down at his face. It looked like he was just sleeping; of course, she imagined even his living self would have looked dead when he slept. But now, in his endless sleep, the red around his eyes had vanished. He had been bathed and dressed well and he looked exactly as he had the first time Jane met him. It seemed like a long time ago and only then did she realize that she had almost forgotten how he looked when he wasn't near dead from drugs and alcohol.

Jane reached down a hand to stroke across his cheek. Even she felt its cold touch. "Goodbye, Juan," she whispered, a tear trickling down her cheek. She knew now that everyone, even Cesare, would die eventually. There was no stopping that. And she – she would have to live on. There was no stopping that either. "The world is never good."

She gave his hand a final squeeze. "I pray your heaven will be."