Blood Legacy: The Story of Ryan (31 page)

Ryan glanced around curiously at the “statues.” They were actually young men and women who had painted their bodies and were now frozen in various acts of debauchery. The acts ranged from the mildly deviant to the incomprehensible. Ryan marveled at the acrobatic nature of some of the sexual scenarios, but was otherwise unimpressed. Victor appeared equally unmoved, in direct contrast to the titillated crowds surrounding the still-life actors.

Victor pushed his way through the throng, aware of the attention they were attracting. Heads turned and he could easily overhear the whispers of those present as they both subtly and unsubtly tried to get a glimpse of the beautiful strangers. Humans had always been drawn to their Kind, and few of their Kind had the overwhelming presence of he and his fair companion.

They moved into the great circular hall that was set up for a banquet. Tables with chairs and recliners were set in a roughly circular pattern between the pillars, leaving the middle of the hall open. Victor ignored the murmur that went through the room at their entrance, his gaze sweeping the hall. His eyes settled on the raised dais at the far end of the room where a richly dressed man was seated. The man nodded to Victor.

Victor glanced down at Ryan who was coolly examining the room, ignoring the illicit conversation their arrival had sparked. She nodded to him in understanding, following his lead.

 Alexander sat upon his papal throne. Although over seventy years old, he was still a fleshy man of huge appetite. He took the measure of the two men coming toward him with a practiced eye.

Although well known for his insatiable lust for women, he had an unabashed appreciation for virility. The tall, dark-haired man approaching him had to be one of the most virile men he had ever seen. Dark-eyed with high cheek bones and an aquiline nose, the Medici’s would have a hard time finding so perfect an ideal in their vast collection of art.

Alexander turned his attention to the boy. He himself had no predilections in this particular area, but had he access to so beautiful a youth, he felt he could be persuaded. It was unlikely there was as comely a person, male or female, in the entire room. He was pleased with this addition to his banquet.

Victor bowed and took the hand of the Pope, kissing his ring. Ryan followed suit and stepped back to Victor’s side.

“I am honored at your invitation, your Holiness.”

Alexander gazed at the man in a certain languor. “Of course you are.” He paused, a certain significance in his words. “This is the first time you have had the pleasure of our company at such an event?”

Victor nodded as Alexander continued. “I trust you will participate fully. I am unhappy when my guests are not pleased.”

Victor understood the implied warning and bowed gracefully. He guided Ryan to the far side of the room, almost directly across from the papal throne. The two sat down at a table between two pillars, ignoring the inviting looks of those around them.

Ryan leaned close to Victor. “And what, pray tell, are we to participate in?”

Victor looked down at his young charge, a youth who was 10 decades older than the next oldest person in this room. He brushed the hair from her eyes. “You will have to trust me.”

From across the room, Alexander watched the sensual exchange between the two and was oddly excited. It normally took the depths of depravity to elicit any type of response from him, yet he felt his groin stir at this simple interaction between these two. He settled back on his throne; this night would prove to be even more interesting than he had thought.

Ryan settled back, not the least bit appeased. She glanced curiously around the room, trying not to make eye contact with those so obviously trying to do so with her. She was successful until her gaze wandered to the woman seated next to the Pope.

The woman stared boldly back at Ryan, a naked hunger in her eyes. Ryan estimated the girl to be 19 or perhaps 20 years old. She had long golden hair, a shade lighter than Ryan’s, framing the sweetest of faces. The innocent countenance did not match the unbridled lust in her eyes.

Ryan carefully let her eyes continue about the room, but her gaze was arrested by the very next man she came to. He was bearded and handsome, clothed in the robes of a cardinal. But there was no Christian charity in his eyes on this night. He gazed at Ryan in hot fury.

Ryan decided to cease her perusal of the room as it was having unintended consequences. Victor leaned close to speak in her ear.

“Her name is Lucrezia, and the man next to her is her brother, Cesare. They are both Alexander’s children.”

If this was not shocking enough to Ryan, his next words were more so.

“It is rumored she has been both her father’s and brother’s lover. She had another brother, Juan, whom Cesare apparently killed in a jealous rage.”

Ryan suddenly understood why the bearded man looked at her with such fury. Lucrezia’s attention was quite overt. Ryan’s misgivings about the entertainment ahead dramatically increased.

As if on cue, great platters of food were brought in. There were gasps from the guests as entire stags were brought forth, the meat stuffed within the hide of the beast. Great boars, tusks and all, were brought in a similar fashion. Every type of exotic fruit and vegetable was available, and the people began to eat ravenously.

Alexander noted that the handsome pair were not eating. They also appeared disinterested in the proceedings around them. He was aware of Lucrezia’s interest in the boy, although he had the feeling the boy would not be interested in her. He glanced at his temptress of a daughter; he did not see how that could be possible.

The food was whisked away as quickly as it had been brought in. A small ensemble in the corner began to play music and a group of 50 to 60 men and women came pouring into the hall. They danced around, playfully picking partners from the seated guests. The guests eagerly leaped to their feet and began to dance with the courtesans.

The wine and rich food were obviously beginning to have an affect as the dancers gaily began to shed articles of clothing. The more they danced, the more clothing was removed until several dancers on the floor were nearly nude.

Alexander clapped his hands and a group of servants rushed in bearing candelabra. Chestnuts were thrown amongst the burning candles and the courtesans began to snake their way through the impromptu maze, picking up the chestnuts. Ryan could see no rhyme or reason for this display, other than it put the courtesans in the correct positions for what was to follow.

Guests began to run out on the floor, shedding the remainder of their clothing. They grabbed the prostitute of their choice, which was sometimes whoever was closest, and began to vigorously copulate.

Ryan, who had seen many things in the last two centuries, was startled by the display. She glanced across the room at Alexander who seemed immensely pleased by the exhibit, and indeed, was even cheering some of his favorites on.

Every type of sexual act imaginable was present. Although the vast majority took place between men and women, there were a scattered few amongst same sex partners. Oral copulation, anal copulation, copulation with parts of the body that seemed incapable of copulation, all were performed with orgasmic abandon. Those who were not immediately engaged in the sexual act were voyeuristically preparing for it. Servants appeared to be keeping count in some bizarre contest.

Alexander felt his eyes drawn to the handsome pair, and was displeased. They were not participating, and indeed, did not even appear to be enjoying the show. As if he sensed his scrutiny, the dark-haired man turned towards him.

There was a knowing, sensual look in the man’s eyes. It was almost as if Alexander heard the man’s voice inside his head.

I know what you want.

Alexander’s eyes narrowed, but he did not turn back to the orgy in front of him. Instead, he watched the man across the room brush the boy’s hair away from the nape of his neck with a languid gesture.

Ryan turned in surprise to Victor, who was partially reclined on a sofa. With little indication of his intention, he grasped the front of her shirt and pulled her effortlessly to the recliner in front of him. She tried to pull away but his grip was suddenly like iron and she was trapped, laying stiffly in front of him facing away.

Victor stared across the room at the Borgia Pope who was suddenly oblivious to the carnal display in front of him. He watched in fascination as the dark-haired man pinned the youth in front of him. He somehow had the feeling he was about to witness something far more extraordinary than a simple sexual act.

Ryan was angered by Victor’s actions. He rarely used his strength against her other than in play.

Relax, came his voice inside her head.

Ryan was further angered that Victor would use his power in such a way. His influence over her was extraordinary, but he rarely forced her to do anything. Against her will she felt her limbs relax and a peculiar languor steal over her. She rested her head against his chest.

Alexander watched the youth’s expression. The boy suddenly appeared drugged as he relaxed in the man’s embrace. The man, his eyes still locked with Alexander’s, rubbed his thumb against the pulse in the boy’s throat.

Alexander felt his excitement quicken. Although cries of ecstasy were all around him, he had eyes only for the pair across the room. He felt himself actually leaning forward in his chair.

The man gazed mockingly at Alexander and Alexander felt his frustration build. He did not think he spoke the words aloud, but he knew the man heard them.

Show me.

The man had a knife in his hand that glittered from across the room. The man appeared to toy with it, caressing the boy’s throat with the flat of the blade. The boy did not appear frightened by the weapon, and in fact, appeared almost to be aroused against his will.

Ryan struggled feebly in Victor’s grip. “Why are you doing this to me?” she whispered through clenched teeth.

Victor knew why he had initiated the act. But his reasons for continuing had nothing to do with the Borgia Pope and everything to do with his hunger for this dark child.

The knife whispered across the boy’s throat and Alexander could see the crimson of the blood from across the room. Never taking his eyes from him, the man lowered his lips to the wound and began to drink.

Alexander felt his passion strain the confines of his holy raiment. The boy’s eyes closed briefly and the perfect lips parted. The eyes reopened but now they were distant, focused on a place that all of Alexander’s depravity had never succeeded in taking him.

The man’s eyes were closed now as well, locked in his unholy embrace. He no longer seemed concerned with satisfying Alexander’s voyeuristic passions, intent only on satisfying his own passion. Alexander finally had to look away.

He gradually refocused on the couples in front of him, but their straining and grunting seemed somehow sordid now, pathetic. He turned his gaze back to the dark-haired man, but he was not surprised to see he was gone.

Alexander would not know how few years he had left alive. But in the ultimate retribution for his sins, he did know he would never again be satisfied.

Victor did not wait for a carriage but spirited Ryan away in his arms, on foot. She was nearly unconscious because he had bled her completely. It was unfortunate he could not have warned her of the night’s events. He knew how headstrong she was, and she probably would not have complied with his wishes. He could have forced her, which is ultimately what he did, but keeping her ignorant had been much simpler.

Victor had been at the mercy of the Church before, and knew that sometimes the best way to fight it was to join it. It had been Marilyn’s idea to toy with the Borgia Pope, well aware of his perversion. She knew if Victor could gave him the ultimate gift, sexual excitement, the Pope would leave both Victor and his lands alone.

Victor glanced down at Ryan. He knew she would be angry upon awakening. She would not understand why Victor chose to do such a thing. Ryan’s way was to break a man in two, but Victor had learned that although effective, force was not always successful. If it were truly counted, Victor’s wealth would be unmatched in the known world, but wealth and power sometimes bred enemies of the envious.

Ryan knew she was being carried but was too dazed to open her eyes to see by whom. She was laid gently to rest on a soft coverlet and heard the murmur of voices. There was a ringing in her ears so she could not make out to whom they belonged.

She rolled over onto her side, wishing the pounding in her head would dissipate. Images from the night swam through her mind, coupled with Memories stirred from her own blood. Her skin felt flushed.