Here's another chapter! Had the idea for this one running through my head so decided to just go ahead and get it written before I forgot anything.

Enjoy!

Chapter Three: Caught in the Shadows

Arianna could recall that day, but it always felt like a detached memory. She had begun the day, uncertain of what it held, and she ended it uncertain if there would be a tomorrow.

Cardinal Della Rovere was at a meeting of the College of Cardinals. The woman, Maria, had remained at the home. Arianna had seen her following behind Micheletto at a distance. She didn't bother hiding the intentions that screamed out across her face. Arianna still had no clue as to why this woman was being housed here. She did her best to ignore the woman and carry on with her tasks for the day. She went into the kitchens to see Federico.

"Who's the new girl?" he asked as soon as she entered and he saw that no one else had come in behind her.

Federico was not a large man. He just had a large belly that reached his destinations before he did. His hair was always greasy from being in the kitchens for so long. His skin was something darker than olive, perhaps the smokes of the kitchens had been absorbed into his skin, giving it a particular tone. And no matter how softly he came to you, it always felt like he was lunging forward.

Arianna looked over the counters to see if she would have to make a run into town or not. If Federico didn't go himself, she was the one who went.

"I don't know."

Federico looked over towards the doorway. "Micheletto brought her in, no?"

She sighed. "Yes, he brought her in. That's all I know." Arianna scowled slightly. "Why are there so few apples?" she asked, holding one up from the basket. Federico gave her a look that answered her question. Micheletto. Arianna dropped the apple back into the basket and started walking around, over to the doorway. "I'll go and buy more. The cardinal asked for baked apple yesterday."

Federico waved her off as he went back to cleaning a collection of vegetables, then called her back. If she was going to market, she might as well do the rest of the shopping. He scratched the list of things he needed on paper and handed it to her.

Arianna grabbed an empty basket and headed down the hall. At every corner she looked behind her; expecting to see that head of ginger that seemed to come out from the shadows. She didn't feel as if anyone was watching her, but still, she couldn't be sure. With solid steps she continued on, leaving the home behind her as she made for the market.

TBTBTBTB

With her basket full Arianna began making her way back, holding the basket up high against her chest. For a moment she regretted saying anything about the apples. But it brought her a small comfort to be out in the open air. Away from the residence. Since Micheletto had arrived things…were different. There suddenly seemed to a mist of secrecy hanging over the roof.

Her steps became heavy as the home came into view. She sighed and lowered her head. It was back to the shadows for her.

Arianna had no clue just how right she was about the shadows.

Inside the candles were all unlit. The sunlight slashed through the rooms in thin and thick strips. The walls and ceiling were strangely quiet. Arianna paused at the foot of the stairs, turning her head slowly and straining to hear a sound. Any sort of sound. She called out. As she made her way towards the kitchens she called out again, for Federico. But the space was empty. She placed the basket of items on the table and turned back round, looking out to the hallway and its shadows. With a steady breath she walked back out.

Della Rovere should have been back by now, she knew that. And she knew there was no reason for the entire place to be empty of human life save her. With a hand out to steady herself Arianna mounted the steps.

"Hello?" she said, just slightly louder than her regular voice. "Your Eminence? Where has everyone gone?"

The doors to the cardinal's rooms were wide open. The curtains were drawn across the windows and the room was shrouded in shadows. Squinting her eyes Arianna thought she could see someone lying in the bed. "Your Eminence? Are you not well?"

She walked slowly into the room and rounded on the bed, coming to stand in front of the person. With a gasp she became unsteady on her feet for a moment and then lunged forward, coming to her knees as she reached out to the mutilated body of Maria. She felt at her face, grabbed her hand. Her skin was cold. Pulling back she looked to the blood on her hands. In a panic she tried to wipe it away on her apron, but that still left the blood on her. Arianna braced herself on the mattress as she stood up and rushed out from the room, her hands recovered in blood. Her dressing was marked with spots of blood from where she had knelt.

Rushing down the stairs as quickly as possible, Arianna stopped suddenly, loosing her balance for a moment, when she saw at the bottom guards awaiting her. She could see their hands on their swords stiffen.

"Stop her!" someone shouted.

There was nowhere for her to go. Their hands grabbed fiercely at her arms and dragged her down the stairs, pushing her up against the walls and holding her there. The one who had called out came forward and looked at her, seeing the blood that covered her. He looked up the stairs and then went up. When he returned he stared her down.

"Where is the cardinal?" he asked her. Arianna didn't know what to say. There wasn't anything that would leave her empty of suspicion. "Where is he? Who is that in his bed?"

In a shaky voice she responded. "I do not know. I left to go to market and when I returned no one was here."

"Except her? Hmm?" the man said, pointing up the stairs. He looked at the blood that covered her. "Was she like that when you found her or is that your doing?"

"I found her that way, My Lord."

The man sneered. "Take her," he said to the guards. He looked down at the blood. "And cover her up. We'll question her later."

She could have called that she was innocent. Tried to break free and run off. It would all be for nothing though, she knew. She knew no one there in Rome, there would be nowhere to run and hide.

She was dragged from the residence, looking around wildly. As she was about to disappear down the street Arianna spotted him, another man leading the way towards the cardinal's home.

Micheletto could see her face breaking as the guards dragged her away, until at last she was gone. The entire time she had not broken her stare towards him. He had not seen her earlier in the day, when he emptied the place of the servants. And there was nothing he could do about it. If she had come back he'd have killed her as well.

But she suffered a worse state, being caught by Juan.