Aimnéise Place of Pendants 2

Chapter Twelve

Cesare Borgia

Franchesca followed this mysterious man to find there was indeed a fine carriage awaiting. Holding the door open for her and taking hold of her hand he helped her inside. Once they were seated he rapped on the top for the driver to go.

“May I see your face now?” She asked fluttering her eyelashes.

“If you wouldn’t mind waiting until we reach my home I would be truly grateful Signora.”

Franchesca thought this was somewhat unusual, but it was after all worth two hundred soldi, and who was she to turn down such an offer. Not really caring what he looked like whether he was scarred, or pock faced. It did not bother her if he did not want her to see his face. She could work with that.

It took forty-five minutes to reach his home, her mouth dropping open at the expensive two-story residence. Franchesca smiled to herself. This man definitely had money to own such a grand home. When the carriage came to a stop, he quickly alighted and offered his hand to help her down.

Following him into the house the marble floors and crystal chandelier did not fail to pass her attention, a very fine house indeed. He led her along a hallway to a set of stairs, without a word he descended. Franchesca thought his quietness and the fact that they were not taking the stairs up to a possible bedroom was indeed unusual. Who was she to question his actions though. Perhaps his bedroom was in the basement. Shrugging her shoulders she followed him; it would all be worth it in the morning. Thoughts crossed her mind how she could possibly squeeze even more soldi from him.

He stopped abruptly at the bottom of the stairs.

“I thought you would like some refreshments before we start.” Turning before she could answer walked with confident strides down a dimly lit hallway to a door at the end.

Standing aside so she can pass Franchesca entered a small room with a small table and two chairs in the center. On the table stood a bottle of wine, and a plate of sweetmeats. Well, isn’t this romantic. Making her way to the table she removed her cloak which he took and hung up behind the door, removing his own at the same time.

As she sat she gasped when he turned. “I know you…your Cesare Borgia the Pope’s son.” Franchesca started to rise. She had heard about him and none of it was good.

Not one of the working girls would have anything to do with him. Some claiming their facial and body scars came from spending a night with the infamous Cesare Borgia. He had gained a reputation as a sadist. Leaving ladies of the night, scarred and terrorized for life.

He grabbed her wrist. “I’m afraid it is too late for you to leave. You will sit down, and you will have a drink with me.” His eyes held a wicked gleam. His smile she thought was more like that of the devil than someone looking to spend a sensual night with her, sending a river of ice shooting down her back.

Franchesca drank slowly not taking her eyes from him. There was no question he was handsome, but his reputation was enough to frighten even her. Before finishing the last few mouthfuls of wine, he painfully grabbed her by the elbow pulling her up from the seat, proceeding to drag her to a door at the other side of the room. Opening it he pushed her through locking it behind them.

Her eyes went wide, her body began to shake. The stone room was full of torture equipment. A rack stood to the left. On the walls were a variety of lashes, knives and other implements neatly laid on shelves. There was only one use for such weapons, and that was to cause pain. Her eyes flashed to a large wheel stood on the right with hand and ankle holds of rope.

Dragging her to the wheel he tied her hands, then stretching her arms above her head. Franchesca pleaded with him she wasn’t into this sort of engagement. Attempting to fight him off and wriggle free, was futile, Cesare was much stronger. He spread her feet and tied them at the bottom, saying not a word.

“Please don’t hurt me, please Cesare I will do anything you ask but please, please don’t hurt me.”

He laughed then proceeded to cut her clothes off with a blade, one slow slash at a time. Franchesca was terrified, she wasn’t into torture and never did so with any of her clients.

Suddenly a banging came at the door. Franchesca immediately thought someone had come to her rescue. Her eyes flashed from the door to Cesare, praying for a rescue. Goosebumps erupted over her naked body from the coldness of the room.

Cesare walked casually to the door and let two hooded men in. One appeared similar in build to Antonius. Please let it be him. She hoped he had come to save her. Pulling the hoods off their heads, neither one was him. A sickening feeling swirled in her stomach. These two men were not known to her, but she knew then that they would not rescue her.

The taller of the two, slim in build had several scars running down his face. His right ear was missing with small chunks left, where his ear had once been. One of the facial scars crossed his upper lip, having the effect he was constantly sneering.

The shorter of the two reminded her of a bulldog. It looked like he didn’t have a neck, he did though seem to have problem breathing. He was snorting more than one could say he was breathing. His droopy eyes where red either from lack of sleep or too much drink.

One leaned close to Cesare whispering to him and shaking his head when Cesare whispered back. The bulldog scanned her naked body with lust in his eyes, his tongue licking his lips. The three of them moved in tandem coming to stand in front of her.

Franchesca wasn’t going to be intimidated as their eyes lingering over her. One thing she took pride in was the shape of her body.

“Signora where is the half pendant Henricus gave you?”

The question caught her by surprise, it was the last thing she expected he would ask. So that was what this was all about. The ugly little half necklace that was only worth the silver, if it was melted down.

But what if it wasn’t? The fact that Cesare was asking for it now meant there had to be something more to the necklace than she had initially thought.

She had given it to Fiora. For the time being it was safe from him. When she got out of this, no matter what they did to her, she would recover it and find out just what it was, and of course it’s value.

“I don’t know anything about any pendant, Henricus didn’t give it to me.” She replied defiantly.

“Come now Signora we know he did, what have you done with it. We didn’t find it on Henricus’ body or the two that you sent to dispose of him. By the way they are all dead, and we did not find it in your room.”

He smiled like a fox gaining entry to a hen house.

Her first thought was of Antonius, surely, they didn’t kill him, that would be such a loss. Not that she had any affection for him, he had been good to her, helping with anything she needed including disposing of clients no longer worth her time.

Cesare turned to the two men still scanning Franchesca’s body. “Signors do either one of you have an adversity with the necessary means needed of extracting information from this whore?” The two men shook their heads, not taking their eyes from her. Both smiled as if waiting for a birthday present.

“Please Cesare, don’t do this, I can’t go back to work with marks or cuts on me, please. It’s the only way I know how to make a living.” She begged again. Franchesca didn’t mind begging; she was a good actress.

Cesare gave her a compassionate look, as if he felt sorry for her before the corners of his mouth lifted into a sinister smile. Taking a step towards her he ran the back of his knuckles down the side of her face. He had one job to do and that was to get the half pendant and the woman who wore it. How the two had become separated he had no care about. He was promised a tenfold increase to his army, and guaranteed he would win a war that was coming with France.

This would show his father that he was the mightier of his sons bringing the wealth of what the French had to offer to lay it at his father’s feet. He turned scanning his equipment and toys in the room. The only issue he had was his thorough enjoyment of torture. Even before he had managed to obtain necessary information. Cesare turned his head back to Franchesca, a glint of joy in his eyes of all the possible things he could do to her.

“My dear Signora you don’t have to fret. Tell me where the pendant is?” Franchesca shook her head to another wicked smile crossing his face as if he was happy she wasn’t giving him the information he wanted. Although even if she did give him the facts of where the pendant was, he would still take his time and enjoy every delicious way torturing her.

Franchesca screamed.

“Signora, there is no need to scream. No one can hear you. Your such an evil minx. How many men have you had killed because you tired of them?” Cesare said in a bored tone. He noticed the two men beside him were drooling, oh yes, they liked to torture as well, he knew his brothers in alms better than anyone else. This was not the first time he had involved them in one of his ventures.

“Is this why you are doing this because I had a few evil men disposed of? Did I offend you in some way? Was one of those men a friend or relative? If so, I am sorry I didn’t know. Please Cesare you don’t want to hurt me.”

Cesare laughed. “It is not just because you are so evil, you would be well accepted entertainment for the devil.

I enjoy this, I appreciate assisting a person in reaching their ultimate pain level and using my…instruments in the process.” He said sweeping his arm around the room, his smile growing more devious. “But I Signora need to know where the pendant is and where the person is that it came from.”

Again, Franchesca shook her head, convinced he would do her no real harm. She might come away with a few lashes and cuts. It would be worth it in the long run, convinced he would let her go by the morning. She was not happy with the idea of having to take on the other two men. It wasn’t the first time she had given her body to more than one man at a time. Some things to improve her lifestyle required sacrifices.

Franchesca wasn’t into tortured, but it was obvious that the pendant must be something extremely valuable. When this was all over, she would get it back. She would also have Cesare dealt with along with his two perverted friends.

“Cesare I can pay you…I have money put away. I will give you everything I have…please Cesare.” Franchesca sobbed and pleaded knowing with most men they couldn’t deal with a woman crying. They either left or attempted consoling her. She thought of herself as a great actress and waited to see what they would do.

Cesare ignored her and motioned to one of the men, who produced a scarf from inside his cloak. He tied it around Franchesca’s mouth, gagging her before running his hands down her neck to her breast. He squeezed hard. His hand moved down her stomach to the apex of her thigh again grasping her hard, causing a muffled shriek from Franchesca.

Franchesca suddenly realized that there was a possibility that Cesare might mean to kill her. Fear clutched her stomach, there had to be a way out of this, even if it meant she would tell him where the pendant was. Screaming through the gag she tried to tell him, but her voice was just a garble.

Cesare went to the wall of lashes and blades taking down a lash from the wall that had a dozen leads, each holding a small metal ball at the end.

He stood in front of Franchesca, a grin spreading across his face. Her eyes widened with terror, head shaking in panic at the lash he held. He was indeed going to hurt her and badly. Shrieking into the gag, she tried desperately to tell him where he could find the pendant. Holy mother! Franchesca had left it far too late.

Cesare shook his head. He knew she was trying to tell him where to find the pendant.

However motion of events had started, he could not stop now, his passion for torture outweighed what had been promised.

“Since you can’t give me the information I need.” Franchesca bobbed her head frantically hoping he would remove her gag so she could give him the information. “I’m afraid that you won’t be leaving this place with a few marks and cuts.” He looked at the other two men, they nodded at him. “I’m afraid you won’t be leaving this place Signora…alive.”

Cesare didn’t care if the witch Aoife had offered him more power, a bigger army or success with a war with France. Nothing was going to stop him from having a little fun. He would deal with finding the pendant later. Feeling confident with the resources he had he could still find it without Franchesca. Now though, it was time for some entertainment.