The food sat in my mouth, tasting bitter from what I was learning about my family. Not only a week in Florence and I have been shoved into the imbalance and tension between these Italians. Even the food here made me miss England. 

"Anna." My father gently called to catch my attention. I looked up and saw my brother and father staring at me. 

"I was just telling father that the oldest Medici boy stopped Sforza from invading Florence, he took his father's place at the bank."

"So what does that mean for us?" I ask. The look on my face must have been evident. I had wanted to go home the minute we left.

"We cannot go home yet, my dear. But this means the bank is still weak, the boy is inexperienced and soon we may have a chance to take the Pope's accounts."

"How do you know Lorenzo will fail?" I took another bite of food ignoring my brother's glare. 

"Maybe you should go back to thinking about whatever it was while father and I discuss further." Arthur snidely suggests. I blankly stared at the wall, picturing my brother there with a target on his chest. He assumed I was some stupid little girl. My brother was so sure Lorenzo could be beaten to a pulp. Perhaps my brother was more experienced but he's also arrogant. I would not be surprised if that was his downfall to be against the Medici boy.

-

Florence after Lorenzo apparently departed for Rome was insignificant. It filled with noise and objects that rattled throughout the city. My Italian dress traveled along the cobbled streets, the fine material felt like hellfire on my skin. I should consider myself lucky when I was among those who did struggle with the debts of the Medici. 

It was easy to feel as if I had no place in Florence. Father and my brother ignored me for their schemes and plots, I had no friends here, no one to trust or speak to. How could I find somebody to trust when almost every word I speak is a lie coming from my lips?

Arthur brushed against my arm harshly and looked back. "Am I to assume you have come to Florence to prance around like a prized stag?" He asks. 

"No of course not, brother. Tell me what am I supposed to do where it doesn't concern a Medici boy. I shall help you and father if that would please you. Or not, you'd much rather me stay inside and keep my mouth closed, speak when spoken to." Arthur paused, his countenance gave away his embarrassment. 

"You should not speak to me like that." He grabbed my arm and looked around to see if anyone was looking. "If I asked father, he would send you home. You being here is because of me, you should be thanking me, on your knees."

I ripped my arm from his grasp, I could still feel his grip, it lingered and burned . "I did not wish to be here. I could be home with mother and our siblings. At least they are grateful for my presence. You act like you are superior to me, but forget who is older. You may be father's first son but I am his firstborn. You want his love and approval so much, you'd do anything."

"Do not act so pure, you have done things for father's approval. Something I fear even I would not do." My eyes widened at his words, clenching my jaw I grasped my cloak and started to walk away from him. I did not wish to speak another word to this despicable man. To bring up old secrets that continue to haunt our minds without knowing every fact. Of course, he would bring that up, anything to be the golden son.

I felt the strenuous dress drag me back, crowded people stomped on it. I ripped it from their feet and trudged through the crowd. 

I missed home, I missed having my family with me instead of strangers surrounding me in this strange city. I felt my cloak get dragged back as I am shoved to the side by somebody in dark clothing. My brother would not have followed me into the crowd to find me, he would not bother. I looked back and saw a tall man with dark locks facing me. 

"Excuse me, madonna. Apologies. " He says with a sultry voice. He had a conniving look on his face that screamed he was winning. The man must have received glorious news to be impolite to a lady and smile for it. 

"You don't sound apologetic, but I suppose I accept." I respond to him, letting him smirk more. 

"Is there something distressing you Madonna, you seem upset."

"I don't see how that's any of your business just so you know I am not upset or distressed although you have seemed to shove into me and into my life somehow."

"An accident. A very fortunate accident for me." He stepped closer and in the crowded city there seemed to be no where I could go. He eyes became daggers to my soul. "What is your name?"

"Adreana Bucelli."I reluctantly say. The name was so foreign to me just like this city, it made me sick to be addressed by it, such a beautiful sickening name.

"Adreana. It's truly an honor." His hand grasped mine gently, placing a just as gentle kiss on my hand causing it to tingle. He backed away slowly and turned back on his way to wherever his journey was set before he had met me. A huff of breathe came and left my body. Men in Italy seemed so barbaric. What man wasn't though? After being with my brother the men in England were not so enticing either. 

I turned back on my way to somewhere. I did not care for where it was, anywhere away from my family, away from thoughts of secrets. 

That night was no better than this afternoon. My brother smiled deviously as my father scolded me like I was a young child.

"Do you know the dangers of this city, Anna? You cannot just walk away from your brother because you feel life is unfair. You must do your duty."

"What is my duty, father? Mother was looking for a husband for me. A duke was asking for my hand, tell me why was that not good enough for you?"

"You are needed here, Anna. Do not question father's decisions, do you think him incompetent?" My brother interrupted. He forced himself to keep an aggravated countenance, but I could tell by the twinkling look in his eyes he was loving every moment of my demise. 

"Of course not. I just want to know how I am supposed to be helpful or useful to our family when I'm told to sit still and look beautiful. I could have done that in England."

"You are a vain little girl."

"Then what are you, brother?"

"Enough!" Our father bellows. He wiped a hand over his face, the dark shadows under his eyes revealed themselves to me. My poor father relentlessly tried for us, yet we make his life difficult. "You are both my oldest children. You are both important to me. I needed you here in Italy. I wanted you both here. Take this opportunity for our family. Do not fight. We are here to build our success not ruin our family." He was always the calm one in our family. Most men think him to be weak, but he is an intelligent man, sometimes naive to the dark hearts of other men. Most look out for themselves.  Like Arthur. 

"We won't fail you, father. I promise you. Right Anna?" I felt his stare on the back of my head, burning into my skull. My father's light kind eyes bore into me and I gave a heavy smile for him.

"Of course."

__

The days of Lorenzo's return I was pushed by my family to get his attention. Yet it was like the trying to catch the attention of the sun during a summer storm. This storm of pressure and responsibility has hit this Medici boy and the days have been getting more difficult. I tried to speak with him, get him alone, yet I got brushed off as he ventured off to some unknown destination. 

While Lorenzo was the sun, this other man was my shadow. I saw him in Florence whenever I was able to escape the escapades of my family. I always managed to catch his gleaming eyes and small kind smile before he escaped into the crowd. I never knew where he escaped to.

I stood on the sidelines of the joust that was taking place. My brother would have participated but my father thought it best to stay in the shadows. My brother also would have been angry and volatile if he had lost, which is why it is best for him to stay away.

"You should speak with Lorenzo, my darling." My father whispers in my ear. Arthur stood at my side, a stoic expression on his face, trying to size up the participants. I looked back at his wide smile. I could never disappoint him. 

"Alright." My whisper came out. Shyly grabbing my dress I walked along the sidelines, my eyes stayed on Lorenzo as he fixed his armor. His brother prepared as well, my eyes caught his first and he looked towards Lorenzo.

"Brother, we have a visitor." Lorenzo turned and looked down at me. My hands grasped each other and I gave a shy smile.

"Adreana, what are you doing here?" Lorenzo asks.

"I just wanted to wish you luck. I know you will do well." 

"And I?" Giuliano quips.

"You as well, of course. How have you been?" I turned back to Lorenzo, Giuliano continued to be attended to by the servants, and Lorenzo faced me.

"I've been well. I'm glad to be home in Florence." 

"Lorenzo." We heard. Giuliano took our attention away from each other towards two men. It was him, my tall shadow. Lorenzo turned back to me, his jaw clenched. 

"I'll speak to you later, Adreana." I nodded glumly, I looked back at the two coming and turned back. My arm was slightly and roughly pulled back by Lorenzo. "I'm sorry," he whispered in my ear before I turned once again to walk back to my brother and father.

As I approached my family my father looked at me eagerly. "So? What happened?"

"What do you expect to happen in a few minutes, father? She barely spent time with him. Why weren't you there longer?"

I got back into place between the two. "Two men were approaching them. Lorenzo told me he'd speak to me later. I apologize if it wasn't as long as you'd like." I whispered. "Must I stand here like a prize, father? Or may I go home?"

"I do not know what kind of prize you would be." My brother quipped at me. 

"It's alright, my dear. We will not be here long. The men will joust and soon it will be over."

I looked back and saw one of the men which looked like Giuliano be on the horse. 

The first match was a tie between the two. The destruction was much for me, not what I would like to be doing on an afternoon, yet if the Medici are here, so shall we.

"The next two are preparing, may I rest?" I ask my father. My brother glared in my direction while my father nodded, rubbing my arm.

"Go right ahead."

I strayed further from the sidelines my eyes on the ground. I needed a breather from the front row of the action, I escaped to the sides where servants frantically prepared riders. 

"Well look who I have found. Adreana Bucelli." I look up to see the man once again found me. "If you don't mind me calling you Adreana." He then says as if to save himself.

"My shadow. Always seeming to catch up." I joke. He let out a chuckle as the servants walked away to his order.

"I'm your shadow now? Who has come to who?" He asks with a smile.

"I merely walked upon this area. My apologies should I get back to my family?" I stepped back and he held his hand out.

"Wait! Don't leave just yet. You could be my charm for luck." 

I forced the smile off of my face and stared away. To my side across the field of jousting I saw Lorenzo angrily placing his armor on. 

"You're fighting Lorenzo?" I ask my eyes still on the Medici boy.

"Jousting. We'll be fine, thank you for worrying about me." I let out a gentle scoff. "You wound me." 

"I didn't mean to offend, messer." I gave a smirk before looking down again. "Well, good luck in the joust, shadow. I'll be watching in the sidelines."

"I will be looking forward to seeing you by my side." Once again he leaned down, grasping a hold of my hand and kissing it. I looked to my side and Lorenzo had turned his head after seeing mine turn. My brother would be furious to see this, yet it was nothing but a polite gesture. Many men do this to young women like me. I had no real reason to worry.

I walked off and saw the two had finished and got onto their horses. 

---

Before Francesco mounted his horse his uncle walked up beside him. "You must defeat Lorenzo." He tells him.

"Don't worry, Uncle." He answers, "I will." He kept his eyes on the pale man across the way, flames fueling the tension. 

"That girl, who is she?" His uncle then asks. Francesco looked back at him, surprised he'd mention or care about a girl he had his eyes on.

"Nobody. Why do you care?"

"Because if you hadn't noticed, Lorenzo had his eye set on the two of you as you carelessly spoke around her. He watched her the entire time she walked to her family."

"So he's a man. Why should that concern us?"

"She's getting too close to him, I've been told her family have been here for not long and yet already she is setting her hook into Lorenzo Medici. There is a reason. Always a reason why I must care. Defeat Medici. Wound him and wound his heart." Francesco glanced worriedly at the innocent looking girl he knew as Adreana. The girl who called him her shadow.

"I will, Uncle."

He walked off not realizing his uncle was just as ready to cheat.

--

The first match hung like a weight on my chest. The lances crashed into shields, the anger was so evident in Lorenzo's scream. No one fell and so it was meant to be done again.

I gripped the cross that hung around my neck. Like he said, no one would get hurt. Right? Once again they mounted their horses. The horses started to race forward but right before impact could be seen Lorenzo fell off his horse suddenly.

His brother and friends ran off towards him while everyone stayed in their places. Giuliano looked off angrily and they went back to their post. Lorenzo started to rid himself of his armor as then the man followed in suit. 

"What are they doing? Why are they taking off their armor?" I quickly asked.

"Do I look like I am the one jousting?" I ignored my brothers remark and kept observing their tense joust to take place. The trumpets went off and the two went forward once again. I clutched my necklace tightly, praying for their safety. 

The joust ended as quickly as it begun, Lorenzo crashed into him with his lance causing him to fall off his horse. A gasp flew out as most immediately cheered. Arthur clapped slightly while my father cheered with the others. "Cheer darling! Applaud!" He told me over the commotion. I sighed looking at the man on the floor in pain and clapped for Lorenzo's accomplishment. 

"Why are you so worried sister? Did you have your eyes set on Francesco de Pazzi? Forget it, father would never allow it." My brother leaned down to say.

"What are you talking about? I don't have my eyes set on a Pazzi. I never even spoke to either of the brothers." 

"You were just speaking to Francesco de Pazzi before the joust, toying with the Medici boy. You know exactly what you're doing or you're just stupid." He scoffed. 

My brother was right. I must be stupid to not realize the tension was not just men's intentions but tension of families. My duty to my family against the Medici could have been ruined because of my shadow, Francesco de Pazzi. I called the man my shadow, teased and joked. Florence's pull was magnetic and dangerous, as was Francesco's, the man I couldn't seem to shake. 

___

A/N: So Anna and Francesco met! What do you think so far? the start of a very unlikely friendship and messed up relationship? 

How do you think Anna will be around Francesco now that she knows he's a Pazzi?

How do you think she will react to Lorenzo's marriage to Clarice? 

And what secrets do you think Anna is hiding?