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for a while, the xia family had fought and claimed the papacy in rome. pope xia ruled over italy in his scandalous reign for a little over a decade. his son, caleb, and his beautiful daughter were dear to him. family was everything, akin to his relationship with god himself.
caleb was rough around the edges, hard to tame. he was pope xia's second hand in prayer and battle. caleb had a tumultuous relationship with his father and religion. the papacy had transformed his family into something that he never expected. while their family had already been known for their brute way of handling business, power had only amplified this. it had consumed their veins.
except his sister. his sweet, little lamb.
if there was anything in this world that would bring him to his knees, it would be her. it was always her.
since childhood, caleb had an infatuation for her, this primal instinct to protect her with every fiber of his being. he had been to war, fought drunken men in the dark of night, and even slept with all the women of italy. every time he had closed his eyes, all he saw was her. everything he did was for her.
it didn't matter how far up the social ladder his family had climbed... she would come before all. before god. before himself.
regardless of what men whispered of their family, he would push past it. but let someone dare to defame or defile his sister... he would have their head for it. cut out their tongue first, then slit their throat. an easy, quick kill. it was more than they deserved, anyway.
even now, as he daydreamed about his beautiful bloodline, he heard the cardinals argue and bark at each other as usual. still, his sister's face echoed in his head. it was the only thing that made him able to sit through such ridiculousness.
"... cardinal. cardinal caleb!" his father's voice boomed next to him, the hall falling to holy silence as his attention is snapped back to reality.
his eyes slithered to the pope, garnered in his adornments with gold and the holy hat that rested on his crown so effortlessly.
"holy father." he nodded to him.
he was surely the only one who saw his father's lip twitch in slight annoyance, eyebrows furrowed.
"it is time we wed your sister to a suitor. she is past the age of marriage, so we must act swiftly."
caleb twitched in his chair, his red cardinal robe feeling tighter than usual. he reached up to adjust the collar around his neck. before he could speak, the conclave murmured around them.
"your holiness, if i could suggest giovanni sforza? he is a relative of mine and in need of a wife." a cardinal a few seats down chimed in.
pope xia cocked his eyebrow in contemplation, hands threading together on his lap. he nodded slowly, looking back to caleb. caleb scoffed in disgust, mindful not to roll his eyes.
"sforza? father, you cannot be serious about considering this outrageous proposition."
"and pray tell, why?" he bit back, voice stern.
"well, for one, your holiness, he is an old widower who will disgrace the xia family name. surely we must find someone more... appropriate for her."
his holiness scowled, knuckles whitening. his eyes slowly dragged away from caleb's as he groaned in sheer frustration.
"we will discuss this later. dismissed. all of you." with a wave of his hand and the heavy rings that lay prominently on his thick fingers, everybody motioned to exit.
caleb didn't take his eyes off of him, biting and gnawing onto his bottom lip for dear life. he felt the eyes of the other cardinals linger on him as they packed up their scrolls and ink to leave for the day.
caleb pressed his palms onto his desk in front of him, standing to speak further with his father on the matter. it was impossible to swallow his pride whenever she came into discussion. he watched as the last man walked through the giant wooden doors, the sound of it closing shaking him to his core. he had to fight for her sake. surely she would not want this marriage as well. after all, his sister was eighteen but still a fool to the world. she was innocence in it's purest form, untarnished by the touch of man. caleb prayed every night to keep it that way.
"holy fa—"
"enough!" his father seethed, "leave us. i must converse with him before coming to a conclusion." his father stood up to face the large stained glass window that the sunset cascaded through. it shone down on him like it was on purpose, like god really was in the room with them. waiting for him to say something.
caleb had to swallow the rock in his throat, had to put himself in his place. he knew he would never win with his father in this state. better to let it rest for now. he could think of a formal way of dissuading him, possibly pushing it back one more year until he found someone better for her.
his father sighed deeply, shoulders slumping. he walked back over to his chair that faced the empty assembly, placing his hands on both armrests. he looked at caleb expectantly.
slowly, caleb made his way forward, getting onto one knee before him. his face dipped slowly, lips pressing cooly against his father's ring. and that was that.
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
"caleb! caleb! oh god, caleb..." her voice echoed throughout the halls of the castle, feet running hastily towards his chambers.
caleb winced as he listened to her agony, his bedroom door slamming open as she came in with vigor. tears were streaking down onto her angelic face, eyes red and puffy. her lips trembled as she wailed, throwing herself into his arms.
"little sister." he whispered, lips coming to kiss the crown of her delicate head. her ringlets were falling out in distress from the caul that sat wildly in her hair. his hand went to cup her cheek and catch the falling tears with his calloused thumb.
he cooed at her, petting her gently.
"how can he do this, caleb? how is it fair? as if marrying me off weren't enough, he takes away my mother!" she cried in pure sorrow, eyes searching into his as she let go of herself.
caleb’s heart broke over a thousand times. surely this was what it was like to witness an angel weep.
he knew his father had banned their mother from attending due to her scandalous standing with the sforza family, trying to ensure that giovanni wouldn’t be embarrassed or scrutinized at his own celebration. holy mother had been a courtesan long ago, even his own father's first mistress at that. it made him crawl internally, knowing that the pope still had included his current mistress on the guest list. the double standard made him sick to his stomach. now here he was, consoling his young sister over such a petty decision.
“i will make sure she is there during the reception, sweet sister.” his voice was stern, confident that he could do anything for her.
“y-you— hic!— you promise?” she fell forward.
he raked his hands through her disheveled curls, his other hand hooking a finger to lift her chin. he held it tenderly in his grasp, eyes flickering down to her chaste lips. he swallowed, tearing them away once more to look her in the eyes.
he wanted to kiss her.
“i do. i swear it.”
her eyes bulged at the thought, staring at him like a surprised puppy.
“swear? caleb… you little bastard.” she giggled, her usual self bleeding through.
he smiled at her usual attitude, huffing out a small laugh. he moved to kiss her forehead, lingering for a moment's breath.
“mhm. aren’t all we xia’s, just bastards?”
she swatted his shoulder in play, fingers tracing his biceps over his undershirt. his skin tingled with each movement, breath hitching as he watched her transfixed by his meaty arms.
"we may be bastards in the eyes of our fellow men," she sighed as she trailed her hand further up his shoulder blade, then collar bone, "but you’re a good man, caleb. i don't feel safe unless i know you're around."
caleb felt like his heart stopped then and there, his cheek becoming velcro as her palm found its way to his face. their faces mingled closely, forbidden exchanges of breath fanning across their lips.
the corner of his mouth twitched.
"you shall never know a moment without me, sis."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
the wedding had been simple and to the point.
his sister walked down the aisle in her golden white dress, hair pinned with the veil of a virgin, gracing everyone with her presence. he knew she was nervous; he could see her reciting her prayers in a broken mantra as she had laid eyes onto sforza for the first time.
ugly thing he was.
caleb wanted nothing more than to swoop in and save her, wed to her himself. run away from everything holy.
but yet here he was, sitting next to his now wedded sister. she drank heavily, her husband already leaving her side to attend to whatever business called him. she was clearly distraught.
as if anything was more important than his gorgeous wife. caleb tensed with anger just at the thought.
he stood up as he saw holy mother waiting for him by the archway across the room, a small mischievous smile taking hold of his lips. he knew this would lift his sister's spirits.
he made his way across the room casually, extending his arm out to their mother.
"holiness. your daughter awaits you." he bowed slightly, kissing her hand.
she smiled, cheeks rosy from her slight nervousness. she was tough as stone, yet still seemed weary of the ordeal. he squeezed her hand in reassurance, nodding for them to push onward. he wasn't exactly close with her. he never hated her though, seeing her as a blessing for bringing his sister into the world. he was forever grateful, forever indebted to her and her offspring. he would do anything for the family, especially where she was involved.
"she looks so beautiful. my sweet girl, now a married woman." she gasped as they walked forward, the music slowing as the whole court paused in spectacle.
he swallowed the lump in his throat, remembering just exactly what this celebration was for. a ceremony for his sister, her transition to a new life. a life that didn't involve him. she would look to her husband now.
his sister smiled with every tooth when she saw her mother enter the dance floor, cheeks rosy from the wine in her chalice. she was ignorant of caleb's cold gaze that locked onto the holy father, his mistress hanging onto him like a succubus.
their eyes had a heated exchange, no words needed. holy mother straightened her shoulders after greeting her daughter, clearing her throat.
"shall we?" she hummed, the music picking up once more after a long moment's pause.
the party resumed as usual, though the chatter certainly picked up. what kind of occasion would it be if there weren't at least one xia scandal to rage about?
later that evening, caleb sauntered around the ballroom as he kept an eye on giovanni sforza. he was clearly agitated, more than the pope it had seemed. he spoke in a low tone, hushed with his own personal guests who attended the ceremony.
as if on command, sforza made his way to caleb before retiring from the event. he stopped shoulder to shoulder, not even sparing a glance to him. caleb lifted his drink to his lips, the lukewarm wine coating his tongue.
"congratulations on your wedding, sforza." caleb smirked into the rim of his cup.
"no thanks to the little stunt you and that whore of a mother pulled. treating my wedding night as if it were the last day of sodom." he hissed, fists curling up into balls.
caleb finally looked his way, jaw tight and clenching.
"i would bite my tongue if i were you. you're in the house of xia. we don't take criticism lightly. even more so now that you are wedded to the most important xia of them all." he growled, hand sitting atop of his sheathed dagger.
sforza's eyes flickered down to where he gripped his weapon, then back to his face. his nose scrunched in anger.
"empty threats mean nothing to me, cardinal." before he could walk away, caleb's hand stopped him in his place. he leaned forward, breath hot against the shell of his ear.
"remember your place. i am my sister's keeper. should you do anything to hurt her, so help me god, i will make sure you feel the wrath of all that is unholy."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
caleb carried her to her chambers later that evening, laying her gently onto the bed one last time. he took it in, his chest feeling heavy with sadness.
she looked young yet older somehow, like she was worlds away from him. her beauty was ethereal, captivating. he breathed in deeply through his nostrils as he watched her chest fall and rise gracefully. it was then in that moment he saw just how much she had grown into a woman, body fuller in all the right places. the cross necklace she wore fell between her bosom deliciously, red and sweaty from her drunken state.
he licked his lips, the back of his neck feeling hot. a pang of guilt hit him, shooting straight to his core. he sighed deeply before clasping his hand over hers and leaned forward, pressing a kiss onto her cheek and squeezing her fingers.
“i will protect you forever. nothing will ever come between us. this i swear."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
four years later
her time with giovanni sforza wasn’t very long, considering how he had treated her.
when caleb found out that his sister had been raped on their wedding night, it didn't take him long to plot his murder. perhaps he could have hired someone else to do it for him, not muddying his hands. but he couldn't not do anything, couldn't let anyone else shed that blood for him. he had to be the one to end his miserable, poor excuse of an existence. to watch the blade slash across his dirty throat. to witness the blood expelled from his esophagus.
there was also a new, terrifyingly real feeling of being a complete utter failure of a brother. he had failed to do that which he swore to protect. every day was another day of waking up and feeling like a sword had been branded and shoved down his throat. if he felt like this, he couldn’t even imagine what his poor sister had felt on a daily basis. the thought alone made caleb want to curl up and die.
“i’m no better than that bastard. i’ll repent every single day for the rest of my life for the sin i have committed against you, sister.” his voice was broken, hands still caked in sforza’s filthy blood.
she held him tightly that night, wiping him clean of his sin. she wept tears of sadness and joy at the same time, partially mourning for herself and the hell she had endured. she was happy to know her brother had been the one to end her suffering in the end, too.
“i promised nothing would happen to you.” he went on.
she sighed deeply, unbuttoning his shirt and revealing his sculpted chest. she ran her hand over his hardness, tracing each outline of his muscles. he sat in silence as she undressed him slowly, unknowingly biting her lip. as her hand trailed further down, caleb caught it before she could cross a boundary.
he couldn’t indulge in this. not now.
“say something.” he pleaded, eyebrows bowing in agony.
“and what would you have me say?” she replied.
“anything. i need to know if you hate me.” he rasped, pulling her hand up to his lips.
she watched him, heart fluttering.
“i could never hate you, caleb.” she whispered.
he nuzzled her hand to his face, staring longingly into her watery eyes.
“i have killed your husband. do you understand?” he choked out.
he confessed his sins to her more than the pope.
“and i would have you do it again in every lifetime. you’ve saved me from my tormentor. there aren’t nearly enough words to describe my gratitude for the sin which you have taken upon your shoulders, brother.” she sobbed, thumb brushing his face.
had it been up to caleb, he would have tortured the fucker for weeks on end. but it had to be done swiftly and quietly. for the sake of the family.
"we must find his murderer and quickly. then we can begin looking for another match." pope xia concluded.
of course, caleb had already planned on letting some petty prisoner take the fall. his holiness also knew deep down the real truth behind sforza's death— but that was none of his business now. they had to save face for the family name.
rome was not easy to rule. everyday people plotted against the xia's. assassination lurked around every corner. hell, by now five of the pope's taste testers had died. it was beginning to get out of hand. everyone was on edge, the clergy weary of trusting one another. they flocked around the pope like crows, plotting his demise.
for a while, everything was back to normal. caleb went about his cardinal duties, carrying out any orders his father had barked at him. in between, he would spend his time with his sister, holding her and laughing with her. rumors began to spread like wildfire of their relationship and caleb’s murderous plot against her late husband.
it didn’t matter if they knew the truth or not, it didn’t effect his standing in the church. the ring of a cardinal sat heavy on his hand, robes weighing on his shoulders. he was powerful and a brute; no one dared to defy him. rumors be damned.
their blissful time together came to an end once more and eventually holy father found another suitor for her. of course, caleb knew the day would come where his sister was used for political advantage once more (especially now more than ever).
alfonso of aragon soon arrived at the city, days after receiving word from him. he made a haste trip over on horseback with few guards and little to his name other than his title. he had been presented to the pope with the congregation as witness to her agreeing to marry him.
he was handsome enough and had a certain charm to him that swayed her. it was a welcome change of heart compared to her first husband.
caleb was certain alfonso had a real connection to her, an affection that was genuine and not just for show. he was content with the match, though he ached to be the one by her side.
it was a blessing and a curse to be her brother. forced to be on the sidelines.
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
caleb walked up to the dark oak door that led to her room, pressing his ear close as he rapped his knuckles against the wood.
"are you in there?" he pondered, voice loud enough to travel through the thick grain.
"is that my brother?" she called back.
"it is." he responded.
"my brother who loves me?" she asked with a playful tone.
he smiled softly, nodding as if she could see him.
"the same." he wasted no time confirming.
he heard rustling beyond the door, a dark giggle emitting from her chest. his interest piqued, and his patience wore thin. he wanted to see her desperately.
"come in, then. see my wedding gown." she sang.
he opened the door without a second thought, the sunlight in her room blinding. it takes him a few seconds to realize what sits before him, smile disappearing with a flash of heat on his face. he realized just how long he had stood still, dumbfounded by her boldness.
"jesus christ—" he backed away behind the door as if to hide, yet he found it hard to completely remove himself.
there sat his sister, naked on her bed with only her dress blocking her privates from his view. his heart raced and his pants felt tighter than before, chest rising with excitement.
"come closer, brother." she beckoned, a sultry smile resting on her beautiful face.
before he could see himself out, he was already coming back in. he checked the hallway one last time before closing the door behind him. he breathed in deeply, back glued to the door as his eyes drank her in.
"do you like it? the gown, i mean." she asked softly, fingers playing with the fabric.
his voice broke when he replied.
"the gold is divine."
she laid there silently, hand propping her head up as she displayed herself. he swore his heartbeat echoed throughout the walls, feeling every fiber of the room around them.
"... i should leave."
"why? am i not beautiful, brother?" she pondered, lips protruding in a pout.
he stepped forward, face washing over with an incredulous look.
"you are the most beautiful creature to have walked this earth. there have been none other like you before nor will there be after."
"do you say this to satisfy me?"
"i say it because it’s true. does it please you?"
"you’re sweet to me, caleb. sweeter than my soon-to-be husband," she paused before continuing "he refuses to bed me."
he scoffed, walking up to her closer. she twitched under his gaze as his fingers reached out to trace her calves. she hummed approvingly, a warmness aching at her core.
"then he is as good as a fool." his fingers kept going further down, playing with her toes as she wiggled them playfully. their eyes remained locked.
"is he? he says it’s because he’s saving himself for marriage. perhaps i’m to blame for my… selfishness."
"then he is a pious fool." he growled.
"am i so hard to love, caleb?" though she was playing a dangerous game, her eyes had some truth behind them. he could hear her voice shake as she asked the question, wetness welled up behind her eyes.
“god, no. how could you ask me such a thing?”
as if it were a fleeting moment of vulnerability, her mischievousness creeped it's way back into her facade. she poked him on the hip with her bare foot, twirling her hair onto her index finger.
"mhmm. come closer. surely it’s hard to see my beauty from there, brother. lay with me."
he shifted nervously, eyes flickering to the distance between him and her naked figure.
“it’s not hard to see your beauty from anywhere." he muttered, shifting himself onto the mattress with her. he kept a respectable distance, careful not to intrude too much into her space. space he wished desperately to claim.
"how about now?" she whispered, scooting closer to him.
"you’re evidence of the existence of god, my love." his breath became heavy as she neared closer to him, hand coming to stroke his cheek fondly.
she watched as his gaze raked her in, eyes slowly consuming her flesh as she was now fully presented to him. he swallowed thickly, sweat beading at the back of his neck.
"you look but don't touch." her voice sounded broken again, like a wounded kitten.
he looked back up to see a stray tear crash down her cheek, his chest tightening with anguish. her hand rubbed down his chin to his neck, pulling him in closer. her mouth parted slightly, both of them staring deeply into each other's eyes.
their lips hovered impossibly closer until they grazed one another.
"you..." he whispered.
before he could devour her, a loud and arrogant knock came at the door. he jumped out of his skin, eyes opening impossibly wide. like he was caught red-handed. she laughed out of pure frustration, throwing her head down onto the bed in defeat.
"my lady!" a woman's voice shrieked.
caleb retracted himself from her side with lightning speed, dizzy as he walked towards the door in disbelief of what had just taken place.
"that would be the dressmakers to fit my wedding dress." she rolled over onto her stomach, resuming her playing with her long, black locks. she bit her bottom lip as she looked back at him.
he nodded, flabbergasted.
"i'll see you at dinner, brother." she added with finality, as if to shoo him away.
"i— uh, yeah. yes." he nodded once more, before backing out of the room slowly.
dinner couldn't come fast enough.
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
the sunset was truly a sight to behold in the capital of italy. caleb sat with his father on a balcony of the castle, both enjoying a wine that alfonso had sent in from naples. the rays of orange embraced their figures warmly, the soft hum of late summer filling the air.
caleb swirled the liquid in his cup, wafting the scent in.
"you're to be wed to a french noblewoman once your sister is joined to naples." the pope spoke, breaking their silence.
caleb paused his movements, eyes trailing over to his holiness.
"france?"
"yes. two birds with one stone." he replied, motioning for the servant to pour more wine into his chalice. they shuffled forward, bowing after refilling.
caleb bit the inside of his cheek, nodding curtly.
"you will send me away, then?"
"only for negotiations. we would see you here with a wife and overseeing the papal army." his father seemed to have made up his mind on the matter, shoulders broad and puffed out in confidence.
"and sister?"
pope xia shrugged.
"the agreement was that he stay here in rome with her. meanwhile naples will provide their arms to us."
caleb inhaled deeply and took another swig. he looked down into his empty cup after finishing it, the stain from the wine left behind. he winced at the feeling of uncertainty it brought him.
"everything is falling into place." he confirmed, finger tracing the rim in circles.
"just as he has deemed it so."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
her second wedding was much more joyous of a celebration than the prior. her smile beamed brighter than the sun, her husband with just as much of a gummy expression as her own.
caleb had been the one to hand her off to him, clasping their hands with one another as they became one before god and the pope himself.
the reception after was normal and free of ridiculous drama. it was as if things were going too smoothly for a xia occasion.
caleb sauntered off into the dining room where they had grubbed on copiuos amounts of meats and vegetables before the dancing had begun. his eyes found the seating roster before him, different names pinned in their perfect arrangements. next to his sister sat alfonso, then the king of naples. on the opposite side was france. his soon-to-be in-laws, much to his chagrin.
in a fit of rage his hands scrambled to unpin each name on the board, then set it up as if it were his own battlefield. france sat at one side, naples on the other. in the middle of them all sat alfonso. a spectacle. caleb gently placed his sister next to him, a final breath expelling from his chest in satisfaction.
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
the doors to the dining room burst open with alfonso and his new wife in his arms, both of them kissing one another with a fit of laughter.
she smiled into his chaste kisses, peeling his clothes one by one as they made their way into the darkness, save for a few candles lighting their way.
"now that i am your wife, will you finally be mine?" she laughed, pinching his cheek.
he chuckled at her words, nosing at her with giddiness.
"mhmm. if she would have me, that is." he grinned into their kiss once more, pressing his crotch into hers, humping lazily.
they were sloppy and uncoordinated, but welcomed nonetheless, her excitement growing. she would finally be with him, once and for all. she would finally be loved, the way she desired. he rutted against her harder, knocking them back onto the large table in the middle of the room. her arm caught them from tumbling back, huffing out a laugh at his clumsiness.
"are you okay?" he asked, stopping his movements to regain composure.
"fuck me." she whispered into the shell of his ear, ignoring her wellness check. she dragged him in by the collar seductively.
he was taken aback by her forwardness, choking on his own spit. her lips made their way down his neck, unbuttoning his dress shirt. suddenly, his body froze in a stillness that made her peer up at him.
"what is—"
"this seating chart looks more like a blueprint for war. who did this?" his words were cold as ice.
still drunk off of her pleasure, she giggled.
"only my brother would do something so..." realization hit her as she spoke the words into existence, slowly turning behind her to lay eyes on what alfonso was so expressively upset about.
he grabbed his name tag off the board, gripping it tightly into his fist.
"so this is what i am to your brother then? to your family?" he backed away in hurt, eyes glossing over in disappointment.
she looked back at him, lips quivering. her hand went to reach for him, but he only backed away further.
“is that it?!’ he yelled.
she flinched at his outburst, retracting inwards instinctively. he stormed off when he was tired of waiting for an answer he wouldn’t get. she sat there in shock for a moment, looking back at the chart once more.
she huffed out a cynical laugh, wiping her tears. she dozed off into space in dissociation before returning to her harsh reality, nodding to herself.
she would never escape her fate, it seemed. she would decide to no longer run from it.
she sat up slowly, unpinning her hair. she shuffled across the floor, slowly making her way for the stairs in the main hallway of the castle. she left a trail of clothes as she undid her gown. she discarded it onto the floor, then her earrings next. her necklace too.
she had made it to her destination by the time she took off her shoes, pushing the heavy door open and entering the chamber quietly.
his figure laid there on his side, naked and breathing softly into slumber. she inhaled a deep breath, crawling into the bed behind him, only in her chemise. she ran her hand over his bare chest, trailing down to the covers that hid his nakedness. in a rush of impatience, she threw the covers off of him, abruptly awakening him.
"what on god's earth—" caleb stammered, voice groggy with sleep.
"am i so hard to love?" she started, crawling on her knees toward him, undoing her chemise.
caleb's breath caught in his chest, eyes widening slightly as his sister undressed herself in front of him. she threw the fabric to the ground, not giving it another glance. here she was, in all of her nature, sliding herself on top of him.
"you shouldn't—"
"but i must." she insisted, feeling his hardness cradle against her ass.
her hands went to reach for his, forcing him to touch her breasts with both palms. he struggled to breathe, feeling as though he were in a fever dream. she inhaled with immense pleasure, her head bowing back slightly as his rough hands groped her and pinched her nipples.
"only a xia, it seems, can love a xia." she moaned.
caleb didn't pause his movements as he touched her with starvation, but his eyes looked up at her in plead. like he couldn't take this torture.
"your husband—"
"you will be my husband... tonight." she ran her thumb over his bottom lip, swiping it gently and pressing it into his mouth. his teeth dragged onto her skin, sucking her digit in.
"they already talk about it. about us. why not indulge in what we are already accused of?" she edged him on, her thumb falling out of his mouth and smearing his saliva down his chin.
he was rendered speechless, completely off guard. caleb could only feel his primal instinct to consume her and only her. she nodded her head, to which he nodded back softly, eyes lulling to her lips as she leaned forward to kiss him.
it started off slow and careful, like both of them were scared to take the plunge. then a switch in caleb hit him like the spear of longinus had struck christ, nailing him to the cross. his hands steadied her hips onto his, rolling his cock up into her slickness. she gasped into their kiss, his strong grip bruising into her skin.
he had never been so taken by desire in his life. his lips ravished her like she was going to disappear any second, tongue finding its way into her delicious mouth. she gladly welcomed him, moaning into his touch. they spent what felt like eternity just like that, kissing and exploring their mouths. like they had put it off for far too long.
when they finally pulled apart, caleb stared into her eyes. her pupils were blown like a supernova, a small tear escaping the outer corner. she wasn't sad but overwhelmed with her need to be with her brother.
caleb began mouthing at her chest, taking his time licking and kissing onto her supple skin. she fell back onto her hand so he could get better access, arching her back in support. his large palm splayed onto her lower back, holding her in place.
"so beautiful." he spoke into her skin.
"caleb..." she whined, hips swiveling on his cock with an indescribable ache.
he groaned with the roll of her folds, positioning himself so she could ride him with ease. his tip brushed at her entrance, her tight, wet ring opening for him. she sat herself down further, moaning loudly when his length pushed into her in one go.
"god— yes, ah!" she cried in a hushed tone, looking down at caleb as his face contorted with immeasurable pleasure.
her brother was large and thick, unlike any cock she had ever taken. he was massive and built like the rest of his body, carved from stone. she threw her head back and stared at the ceiling, her vision watering with the pain of how much he was tearing into her. she let out a laugh, thanking god himself for creating such a mountain of a man.
caleb was too lost in the feeling that was his sister riding his cock, their pace slow and passionate. he thrusted into her with patience, feeling every ounce of her insides embrace him. he figured this was as close to heaven as he would get.
he panted as she took him, kissing her sweating neck as she bounced onto his lap.
"so fucking good, my love. look at you." he gasped onto her skin, eyes rolling back.
"yes, yes, yes!" she chanted, bewitching him with each word that fell out of her.
he pulled back to look at her, tucking her hair behind her ear as she grinned at him. he smiled back, both of them laughing breathily as they fucked. they stayed like this for a while, until caleb's dick popped out from her falling forward on him. he took the opportunity and flipped her over in a millisecond, a small yelp of surprise emitting from her. he nudged her legs open with his knee, cock bobbing and red from his arousal. he slammed back into her with a whimper, skin smacking against hers.
"you're s-so big, christ..." she cried out, mouth falling agape as he pounded into her relentlessly.
he huffed out a dark chuckle, watching her lose herself. he looked down at their connection, crying at how beautiful her cunt looked taking him in. she was sopping wet, their sex wetting his bed.
"and you take it so well, sis. such a little harlot." he growled, taking one of her legs and holding it up onto his chest. he took her ankle and kissed it sloppily, then moved further to suck on her big toe.
she covered her mouth to not scream out, knowing that the papal guards were only a few doors away. she watched sweat bead down his muscled chest, his pelvis snapping forward, veins bulging out. he was more beautiful than she had ever imagined. he was everything she had ever wanted and more.
"ca-leb, fuck, there!" she sobbed, tits jiggling with each sinful thrust.
"yeah? here?" he put her leg back down, thumbing at her clit as she tightened around the base of his cock.
she nodded with fever, cheeks reddening as she neared her climax.
"gonna finish on your big brother's cock?" he panted, looming over her small frame.
"y-yes, please, please, please..." she cupped his cheek tenderly, legs wrapping around his waist and ankles locking together.
she could feel his dick twitch inside of her, ready to unleash everything he was holding back for so long. she was prepared to take it all, like it had already been hers. already belonged to every part of her being.
"take it. take me." he hissed, spilling his seed into her.
she moaned loudly, whole body shuddering as she came with him. he sloppily fucked his cum into her, tip burying itself against her cervix with each push and pull. the sounds were sticky and lewd, filling the room around them like a beautiful symphony.
"fuuuck..." he rang out, hips coming to a slow grind as they rode out their orgasms.
his hand traced down her bare skin, trying to memorize each mole and crease. he knew it would probably be the only time he would see her like this. he had to treasure it forever. to etch it into his mind. sperm oozed out of their connection as caleb slowly began to pull out, chest rising and falling with breathlessness.
"not yet. don't leave me yet." his sister stilled him, pulling him back into her.
he looked at her with slight surprise, thumb brushing a stray hair from her face. she clasped her hand over his, fingers lacing in between his. he understood the feeling, snuggling his cock into her warmth and lying next to her.
"i will never leave you."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
the days that followed their night together were of nothing but tension.
caleb had been walking with his father down the halls of the church, strategizing on the next move for whatever ambitions the pope of rome had conjured.
it was a busy tuesday, many of the cardinals and clergymen tasked themselves with scripture and hunts for relics. that and the holy library had recently caught fire due to an internal spy, wrecking havoc amongst the men. contractors and carpenters littered the castle in hopes to repair and restore.
“once we are back in operation at the library, we will have to find a way to fund the papal army. we would see you command them.” his father went on, white robe and a skullcap gracing his body.
caleb was about to speak up in response, shocked that his father had finally granted his wish.
“ah, there she is. the beautiful bride.” his father smiled, arms opening in invitation to his sister.
she looked beautiful as ever, hair pinned in her red hair net, jewels glistening onto her chest. she was dressed in a dark blue dress with a scoop cut and red accents.
caleb’s body stilled, tearing his gaze away to look around him— anywhere else but her eyes.
“marriage has been pleasing, i hope?” pope xia cupped her cheek, pinching it like he always did. even when she was young.
caleb looked back up to her, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“yes, father.” she replied meekly, laughing with him as her eyes found caleb’s.
they stared without saying a word to one another, not needing any.
“very pleasing.” she said quietly, words stabbing caleb in the very center of his heart.
she walked past them, hand grabbing onto calebs and then pulling away, as if to tell him to follow her. caleb looked to his father, bowing before walking away.
he trailed behind her into a small room, tucked away from prying eyes. she pulled him against her tightly, shoving him onto the door behind him. it slammed close, trapping them together in the heat of her want.
before caleb could say anything, her mouth was on his, kissing as if it were normal. like they had been doing it for a lifetime. he found it hard to pull himself away, losing himself into her touch before grounding himself again once her hand groped him through his pants.
“mm— no— mmph—“
he pushed her off of him gently, both of them catching their breath.
“stop.” he commanded her, his head hitting the door in exasperation.
she looked at him with confusion and hurt.
“why? do you not want me?”
caleb shut his eyes tightly and laughed stiffly, as if it were the dumbest thing he had ever heard.
“of course i want you.” he seethed through his teeth.
she slumped in response, still confused by his initial reaction.
“then what is it? have i done something wrong?” she bit her lip in worry, trying not to lose her patience too quickly.
he sighed, hand cupping the back of his neck before looking at her sadly. his throat had felt like it had a thousand needles in it.
“what happened that night… between us. it cannot happen again, sis. it has no place in your future. nor in mine.” each word came out with delicacy, as if he knew he was going to break both of their hearts.
her stillness was worse than if she would throw a fit, he gaze falling onto the floor in front of them. she fought the tears that threatened to betray her, counting the number of tiles that separated him from her.
he took her hand into his, running his thumb over her soft skin.
"i am to be married soon. a french princess." he muttered, the words burning his throat.
she sniffled, hands becoming clammy in his.
"i know." she replied.
he squeezed her hand, bringing it up to his mouth and pressing a firm kiss to it.
"you must try to live a normal life. one where you love your husband and i my wife. can you promise me you'll try?" he whispered onto her knuckles, as if he were praying with them.
she nodded reluctantly.
"promise me." he repeated, tone shifting.
he couldn't leave without her word. not like this. he pulled her into a tight hug, breathing in her scent. she smelled like home and everything he ever needed. he could get drunk off of it. she collapsed into his arms, finally letting her tears fall onto his shirt.
"i promise."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
caleb had wed in france, nothing too grandiose. his wife was charlotte of albret. she was pretty and mature, not lacking of a woman her stature.
they got along well enough, in his eyes at least. the match had guaranteed him control of a portion of the french military, making him more powerful in his father's eyes. when the time would come, he would be commanded to go north and conquer in the name of rome.
for now, he tended to his cause and rallied support where he could. anything to help the aide in creating a stronger rome. eventually on his travels, he caught word of how the city of naples had lost their king and a new one had risen. his mind immediately went to his dear sister, who rarely wrote to him those days. he wondered if it was due to the turmoil naples seemed to be facing.
nothing could have stopped him from leaving france and his wife's side when he was informed of her and alfonso's captivity within the kingdom, being treated like slaves in their own home. this new king was even more ruthless than the last.
"i want every man i can get to naples. i don't care what it takes. i must find my sister." he barked at his small ring of trusted soldiers.
it took them a day and a night to prepare, everyone riding on horse back to travel to naples. first they had to travel through rome to naples, stopping each night to retire from their long journey. it took everything in caleb not to go on until he saw her, knew she was safe. it haunted him when he was sleeping and when he was awake.
"captain. a carriage is coming this way." one of his men, gideon, warned him.
caleb gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to pounce on whatever threat hurdled toward them in such a hurry.
first came a horse with a hooded rider, then a gilded carriage behind it carrying a mysterious passenger.
his men stood on guard, a tense air settling around them as the rider came to a halt in front of them.
"brother?" a man's voice rang. it was alfonso.
caleb's blood went cold. that meant surely...
"caleb?" a sweeter voice met his ears.
"sis... sister?" he whispered, watching as a figure appeared out of the carriage door.
she was wrapped in dark clothing, only a dim lantern illuminating her familiar features. she was here. she was safe.
caleb didn't think twice; his feet immediately ran towards her at full sprint. he called her name several times, as if he were summoning her. he crashed into her, swirling her around in relief. she cried, tears wetting her cheeks as she smiled into his hug.
"caleb, my sweet brother..." she mewled, hands cupping both sides of his face.
his lips smashed into hers, a long, single kiss of desperation. he pulled away to look at her once more, before kissing her lips another time.
"god, i thought you might be... i can't..." he couldn't even gather his thoughts, only being able to touch her to confirm that this was indeed his reality.
"i know. i know." she whispered, wiping her thumb against his cheek.
"i'm here now. im here." he craddled her against him once more, hand petting the back of her head. his lips went to kiss the crown of her head, eyes murderous as they landed on alfonso's.
alfonso felt a pang in his stomach, one that felt irregular and... wrong.
"it's not every day you see a love like that." the soldier to his left said, eyes not leaving from the scene that unraveled before them.
alfonso swallowed thickly, not being able to look away either.
"like what?"
gideon grimaced.
"like a sibling's love."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
she and alfonso had been granted a safe haven at an estate in rome. caleb had ensured their safety with his own men, making sure they were on guard at all times.
he rarely let them out of his sight, especially his sister.
ever since their reunion, alfonso had been drinking himself to sleep every night. he couldn't get the god forsaken image out of his head, remembering just how close they had gotten to each other. hell, they had even kissed one another. surely this wasn't a normal sibling interaction, different cultures be damned.
she knew he had changed, too, just in the way he had looked at her. like he knew something was going on.
it had been a quiet afternoon, both caleb and his sister walking through the garden. it was reminiscent of when they were children, chasing one another around in circles. except now they didn't have to chase anymore. they had caught up, been able to go at the same pace. like it was a language of their own.
"we need to keep an eye on him. what if he runs back to naples?" she pondered, running her hand over the birth bath. she dipped her fingers into the water, watching caleb as he approached her.
"he won't." he assured her, pressing against her side.
"but say he does. what then? he could cause a scandal if he..." she cocked her brow, eyes sliding to his.
caleb turned her towards her, closing the distance between them. their hips pressed against each other, her breath catching as he hummed. his finger traced down her jaw, then held her chin.
"we are family. we love each other. where is the scandal?" he whispered onto her lips.
she almost leaned in, surrendering to his lips. but she paused, then looked up at him seriously.
"you know where the scandal is." she replied, her voice tinged with a certain darkness that he was not prepared for.
their faces mingled with each other until she pulled away, replacing her somber look with a playful smile, dragging him onward. they resumed their walk.
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
the moonlight filtered through the trees that covered the courtyard, stars glistening in the night sky above. alfonso dragged his feet around as he swung his sword around in a mock-fight. the blade swiped through the air, small wooshes and hisses echoing around him.
he hiccuped in his drunken state, resetting and then lunging forward again.
caleb was searching for his sister when he reared the corner, catching sight of the pitiful state alfonso seemed to be in.
he huffed out a laugh, rolling his eyes as he made his way towards him.
"are you— ngh— laughing at me? tell me, what's so humorous?" he challenged caleb, stumbling forward.
caleb crossed his arms, glaring down at the man. even caleb towered over him in height and build. still, alfonso puffed his chest in defense, hand squeezing the hilt of his sword tightly. his hair was a mess, shirt falling off the side of one of his shoulders. hell, the man even had a puke stain on the front of his shirt.
"you are no husband." caleb spat at him, a look of disgust washing over him. he almost went to pinch his nose at the stench alfonso had carried with him.
"e-excuse me?" his shock couldn't be contained, face reddening at the insult.
"are you deaf? i said you are no husband. look at yourself. fucking pathetic." caleb went on, walking closer to him.
alfonso immediately put his sword up, putting himself in a readying stance. his boot dragged in the dirt beneath him, his chest heaving with anger. caleb chuckled, pacing in front of him like he wasn't intimidated in the least.
"put it away, alfonso. you're too drunk to even wield the damn thing properly."
but alfonso didn't, taking a deep breath before charging forward, almost falling flat on his face. caleb was taken aback, not expecting him to actually go through with it, catching him as he tripped. he went to take the blade from him, transferring it into his grasp with ease. alfonso grunted, heat simmering under his skin.
"damn you, xia! all of you!" he screamed, and pulled out caleb's dagger from his belt, trying to catch him by surprise.
caleb ducked, body weight turning them over and pushing alfonso to the ground. suddenly he felt warmth press against his shirt, his heart stilling as he looked underneath him.
there lay alfonso, impaled by his own sword. his eyes were wide open, his mouth open and blood spilling out of it. he gurgled and writhed in pain, shuddering.
"no. no, no, no! get up you idiot!" caleb yelled, smacking him in the face as he panicked.
he couldn't feel his limbs as he heard his sister's footsteps running from behind him, screaming in agony as she saw her husband lying on the ground, struggling to breathe.
"guards! help him!" she wailed, hands coming up to cover her mouth.
caleb sat there, still as a boulder. he felt his sister come up next to him, pressing down onto alfonso as she hugged him. his blood soaked her dress as she tried anything and everything to resuscitate him. to do anything.
he watched her as she did all of this in a frenzy, everything around him turning into a blur. his ears began to ring, feeling her hands shaking him. she was pleading, saying something he couldn't quite make out. everything was just so much and all at once.
alfonso was eventually placed onto their bed, the physician trying to operate on anything he can. he looked up at caleb, who was leaning against the doorframe. he shook his head, walking up to him and whispering.
"he won't make it through the night."
caleb slumped forward, defeated.
his sister held alfonso closely, cooing at him as he faded in and out.
"leave us." caleb managed to muster out to the doctor, closing the door behind him.
he made his way slowly to the bed, sinking at the edge of it. his sister leaned up, staring at caleb with those tired eyes. he hated seeing how much life left them every time they locked gazes. it made him spiral further into his own self-hatred.
she said nothing as she shakily lifted herself, alfonso trying to speak through the pain. she coddled his head, shushing him.
"i'll make it go away." she murmured, kissing him softly on the forehead.
she pulled herself together, walking across the room to the dresser. she poured water in a glass, then pulled out a small vile that contained a suspicious powder. caleb could only assume it was poison.
he watched her as she emptied its contents into the cup and lifted it up to swirl the mixture together. she turned to him, face almost as lifeless as her husband's.
"is this all i am now, brother? a xia?" she asked with a low tone.
caleb flinched at her words, staring at her with a crestfallen expression.
"a professional." he whispered into the cold air.
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
caleb knelt on the ground beside her as she laid next to her now dead husband, almost passed out from pure exhaustion. her face was caked with blood and sweat, and even her jewelry was stained.
he caressed her face gently, trying to soothe her as much as he could. her eyes pried open to stare up at the ceiling.
"i will never wash this blood away." she sighed.
caleb brushed his thumb over her cheek once more, staring down at her in sorrow.
"then i must." he offered.
he collected a bowl and filled it with water, wringing out a piece of cloth to wipe her face with it. he hovered over her, tending to the stains that covered her skin. her mouth fell open, cheeks tinged with blush as he took care of her.
"you will be naked and clean... and bloodless again." he breathed over her, breath fanning over her face. his lips captured onto her neck, finally tasting her savory skin once again.
"and mine."