She grabbed the bucket and walked slowly toward the river, her mind reeling over curious thoughts. She hadn’t felt this way since high school. Since graduating, her focus had been purely on her career. There was no room for relationships and now, all she could think of was the promise of Cassius’ touch but then… What was that? Magnus had sent shivers down her spine and stirred the butterflies in her stomach. Ellie shook her head, trying to free herself from distraction.
“No reason to be greedy,” she said to herself. Cassius was who she wanted. She had dreamt her entire life of a man like him. Ellie plopped down on the river bank and scooped up a bucket of water, then set it next to her. But what would Cassius think of her? Women these days weren’t praised for their independence. Then again, Cass said that he loved that about her. Right? “Ugh,” she groaned. She laid back, letting her head rest on the grass, and set her eyes on the stars. “Gods, huh?” she asked the night sky. “Is Cassius right for me? He’s-” But before she could finish her thought, she stopped and let out a small chuckle. “I’m just like my high school girls,” she said with a smile. “No, no, no.” She stood up and brushed herself off before grabbing the bucket and heading back to camp. “Cass will help us.”
Chapter Three
Ellie rubbed her bare neck with the small piece of cloth, soaked in creek water. The cool water felt amazing against her skin. She wasn’t a big fan of the heat and Rome in the midst of some sort of summer heat wave wasn’t exactly her idea of a perfect vacation. Her feet moved wearily along the smooth rocks as she edged a bit deeper into the creek. She rubbed the cloth up her legs, trying to get the dirt off but it didn’t seem to be doing any good. She would do anything for another rose bath. In fact, she was almost expecting one as soon as they got to Cassius’ villa. Unfortunately, she was in no shape to see him as she was.
Eyeing a large rock, she sat down and dipped her head forward, trying to submerse her hair in the creek water. When she lifted her head back up and smoothed her hair back a chill ran down her spine. Someone was there. She tensed. Her body stiffened but her senses were heightened. Behind her, she could hear a twig snap as someone took a step forward.
“Here,” said Magnus.
Ellie simultaneously turned her head and tried to cover herself at the same time. “What are you doing?” she sputtered. “You can’t sneak up on a girl like that.”
“I am sorry,” he said. “I did not realize that I was sneaking up on a girl. I thought I was just handing this bowl to an oddly shaped boy so that he could better wash his long hair.” He tossed the bowl in her direction.
Instinctively, she reached for it before it could be swept away by the water, which exposed her entire body for Magnus. Her eyes moved up, to him. He stood in front of her, naked as a jay bird.
“I do not suppose the creek has enough space for me as well,” he said. He watched as she covered her eyes and face with the bowl in a juvenile motion, which made him let out a loud belly laugh. “Fine, fine,” he said. “I will leave you in peace.”
As he turned to walk away, his sandals snapped a few more twigs. Ellie’s eyes opened and she peered over the bowl. She let out an inaudible moan.
“Cassius,” she said. “Cass, Cass, Cass.” She shook free of her daydream. “I should be thinking about Cass.” Ellie sighed. “Oh, Carol. Where are you? I’ve got one just for you.” She thought about it for a second. “Well, I mean, since I can’t have both.” She dipped the bowl into the water and brought it up over her head. “Get over yourself, Ellie,” she whispered loudly.
It felt like forever since she had been to the villa. Ellie almost expected it to have changed entirely but nothing had. The maids and slaves were all rushing about. It wasn’t until a familiar looking guard caught her eye that she suddenly had second thoughts.
“Aemelia!” he exclaimed. “I thought you were dead.”
“What?” The shocked look on her face mimicked the guard’s.
“Senator Glabor said that you had been taken away and were most likely dead. Cassius was-” His gaze moved from her face to the tall man standing behind her.
“Oh, this is Ma-”
Magnus elbowed her back. She glanced back at him and then back to the guard.
“This is my friend. He saved me from the assassins. But pay no mind. I wanted to see Cassius.”
“Of course,” said the guard. “He is in his private quarters. Do you want me to escort-”
“No, that’s fine,” she interrupted. “We’ll make it there just fine.”
She thanked him and quickly moved past him with Magnus in tow.
“They know you well here,” said Magnus.
“I told you they would help us out,” she said. Her voice was an octave higher as she could hardly keep her excitement. “You'll like Cassius.”
Magnus cleared his throat. “Yes, I’m sure,” he muttered, not very convincingly.
The guard in front of Cassius’ room smiled at her. “Aemelia,” he said. “Nice to see you again.” He tapped his spear against the ground, signaling to the guards inside to open the doors. She bowed to the guard and waltzed into Cassius’ bed chambers. The room was twice as big as her guest room was. Large burgundy drapes were drawn back from the balcony on the opposite end of the room, which is where Cassius stood – majestic. He turned around. The sun illuminated his square jaw and tanned skin.
“Aemelia!” he sputtered. His face contorted in expressions of surprise, alarm, and happiness. “I- I thought you were dead.”
She rushed into his muscular arms. His embrace felt like home.
“Oh!” He let go of her. One of his arms wrapped around her back and the other fell to his side, just hovering over a dagger on his belt.
“Oh, no. It’s okay,” she said. She turned to Magnus. “This is the man that saved me.”
Magnus extended his hand.
“How fortunate for all of us,” Cassius said, not returning the gesture. “Thank you so much for returning our beloved Aemelia to us.” Cassius cocked an eyebrow. “Is there a reward you seek?”
“No,” Magnus said. He shook his head. “I just wanted to make sure that she got here safe.”
Cassius nodded. “Thank you,” he said. Ellie looked up at his face. There was no sincerity in his voice, just irritation. “You are dismissed.” He nodded toward the door before looking down and locking eyes with Ellie.
“Actually he,” she started but couldn’t finish before Magnus interrupted.
“We are journeying together.”
Cassius gritted his teeth. “Oh you are,” he said. He pulled Ellie closer. “Well, now that she is back safe my arms, we no longer need your services. Thank you. I can have a guard show you to the-”
“But Cass,” Ellie whispered. “He saved my life. And he-”
Cassius smiled at her. “Yes, he already mentioned that. I am glad for his bravery. I was worried sick.” He kissed her forehead. “I am so glad to have you back at the villa. I will not let you out of my sight again.”
Magnus raised his hand. “That is not what she wants. You are not even listening to her.”
“Watch your tongue,” Cassius snapped. His voice startled Ellie as she tried to cower away. He cleared his throat as he tried to regain his composure.
Ellie pulled away from Cass and took a few steps toward Magnus. “Maybe you can wait outside while I tell Cassius about what happened.”
Magnus nodded. He bowed slightly to her and turned to leave.
“Who does he presume to be, addressing me in such a manner?” Cassius said as soon as the door shut.
“I’m sorry about him,” she said. “But there is something important that I need to discuss with you.”
Cass touched her shoulder, causing shivers to run up and down her spine. She felt herself giggle like a school girl. Seriously, she thought. What is wrong with me?
Ellie jumped right into the story, not wanting to waste another minute. “Someone had me imprisoned.”
“But father said…”
“I think it was someone from the council. I think it was the same man who probably murdered those women.”
Cassius took a step away from her. “I am no longer focused on those murders,” he said. “I have more pressing concerns.”
“What concerns?”
“Someone murdered my father,” he said.
Ellie fell silent. She remembered Senator Glabor from her studies. He was a well-known man that lived to be an old man. “That’s not right. That’s not right at all.” She took a step back but was unsteady on her feet and nearly fell over. Cassius caught her and helped her onto the bed. “No, no, no. That’s not what happens. Your father lives to be- I mean, he’s makes great changes in the counsel and he-”
She was changing history. Her presence in the time had altered history.
“How do you know that?” he said.
“There’s something that I need to tell you.” She took a deep breath. This is it, she thought to herself. I should tell him the truth, right? The anxiety suddenly hit her chest and knocked the wind out of her. She took a deep breath. She had to tell him the truth. There was no going back now. Her presence had changed history, she had to make this right. “I’m not from here. I mean, not just Rome but this time. I’m not from this time. I am from the future.” Her eyes were fixed on the wooden floorboards of his bedroom. It was the silence in the room that brought her eyes up to Cass’ face.
“What do you mean, you are from the future?”
“I was standing at the Forum and-” She shook her head. “Just trust me. I’m not from your time. I’m from the future. Your father is supposed to live to be a great man that makes great changes in the country and for reform. He isn’t supposed to die right now. In fact, he dies of old age in his bed.” Ellie’s eyes scanned his face for any emotion but everything came up blank. “Say something,” she sputtered.
Cass gritted his teeth. “Do not tell me what to do.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just- Please let me know what you’re thinking.”
He stood up and walked onto the balcony.
“You have to believe me, Cass. I know what happens. I was brought back in time to solve these murders. That’s why these murders are so important to me. This wasn’t supposed to happen at all. Your father isn’t supposed to die. Not right now anyway.” She ran to the balcony after him but stopped short of the doorway. Though his back was turned to her, she could feel the anger emanating from his rigid stance. Something wasn’t right. She took a step back just as she heard him mutter something under his breath.
“What?” she asked. She could see his knuckles turn white as his grip on the railing tighten.
“A witch,” he said. He turned around to face her but this was no longer the Cassius that she had grown to love. “You are a witch. That has to be it. Have you bewitched me?” The anger flew from his eyes like fire.
“What? No.” A lump grew in Ellie’s throat. She could feel the tears welling up inside her.
“What have you done?” he asked. He reached for her but stopped himself and took a deep breath. His eyes weren’t focused on her. He couldn’t even look at her.
“I haven’t done anything. You have to believe me.”
“Was it you? Did you kill my father?”
“No! No, you have to believe me!”
“Guards!” he screamed.
He doesn’t believe me, she thought. The statement ran through her head over and over again. She had made a huge mistake.
The doors burst open and two armed guards marched into the room.
“Take her away. I do not want to see her again.” His gaze laid upon her face like daggers. She had never seen such hatred before. “We will have her tried as a witch.”
Ellie backed away. “What?!”
The guards reached for her but she slipped through their fingers and ran out the door in tears. She ran past Magnus and down the hall.
“Aemelia!” he called after her. Magnus sprinted after her with the guards barreling down at his heels.
In the safety of the shadows, Magnus finally caught up to a distraught Ellie.
She leaned up against the wall, her head resting against the cool concrete. She panted heavily, trying to catch her breath.
“What happened back there?” Magnus asked, huffing and puffing as well.
She shook her head. “I made a big mistake,” she said with a scoff. “I thought I could trust him but-” She thought about her story. Her wild story. “From the future,” she muttered under her breath.
“What?”
“I told him something about myself. The truth. I…” her voice faded. She fought back tears. “I told him my deepest, darkest secret and he shunned me away. Called me a witch and shunned me away.” She shook her head. Her eyes, which had been focused on nothing in particular turned toward Magnus. “Men,” she said.
Magnus grinned. “He does not speak for all of us. Pompous ass. He may be the standard for boys but not for us men.” He held his arms out and grinned. “Now me…”
The magnitude of Ellie’s smile surprised her. Surprised her enough to accidentally let the tears break through and run down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away. “Ugh!” she grunted in frustration. “But now I’ve been marked as a witch. They’re going to hunt me even more. What are we going to do?” They both fell silent. Ellie knew what had to be done but she didn’t want to. She couldn’t be alone. She had been alone her entire life. Having Magnus by her side had brought forth happy emotions that she never thought were possible – even during this heartbreaking moment. But… She couldn’t risk his life just for her. “You have to go,” she said.
“Go where?” he asked.
“Go off on your own. They’ll be scouring the streets for me. I can’t drag you down with me.”
Magnus shook his head. “Now what kind of husband would I be if I left my expecting wife here in an alley?” Ellie felt a different emotion building up inside her now. “You are not going to get rid of me that easily, witch,” he said with a laugh. “Come on. We have to keep moving in case they catch up to us.” He grabbed her hand and led her out of the alley.
Chapter Four
Cassius stood in the foyer of the gigantic estate. The guards that escorted him in stood on either side. While this gesture would be insulting in any other situation, Cassius didn’t feel threatened by the act.
In the far corner of the large room, a tall figure walked in through a corridor leading to another wing of the estate. He walked around the shallow pool of water in the middle of the room and greeted his guest. His long white toga flowed almost ethereally against the breeze winding through the open foyer. Maids followed him with their heads facing the ground in respect.
“Cassius,” he said, his voice booming through the open space. He waved the guards off. They eased and stepped backwards toward the front door.
“Augustus,” Cassius greeted. He bowed.
“I heard of the death of your father. I sent my condolences with my servants.”
“Yes, they were well received. I thank you for the gesture. My father was a great man.”
Augustus nodded. “Indeed.” He motioned for the maids to scatter. They bowed deeply and scampered off in different directions. “What can I do for you, dear Cassius?”
“I am here with news of a different nature, though I fear that it may also be linked to my father’s death.”
“Oh?”
“We have encountered a sorceress – a witch amidst the people.”
Augustus raised an eyebrow. “A sorceress?”
“Yes, her cunning wit entranced us so that she infiltrated our home.” He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. “I am not ashamed to say that I fell under her spell as well.”
“You say that you believe that she had a hand in the murder of your father?”
“Yes, her last words to me were of her knowledge of the future.”
“Has she been touched by the Gods?”
>
Cassius shook his head. “She made no mention of the Gods. I know she is a witch. She made no opposition to the accusation. Instead she ran from my villa with an acquaintance who I can only assume is an apprentice or a familiar.”
“This is a serious accusation,” Augustus said as he led Cassius around the pool. He looked up at the stars. “Having a witch in the city is a danger we cannot leave unattended. The possible revolt that it could cause in such a tumultuous time-” He stopped and turned to his guest. “You want me to place a bounty on her head?” Cassius nodded. “So it shall be. A small token of resolve for such an unsettling time for you and possible uprising.”
Cassius smiled. “Thank you. With your permission, I shall gather a handful of my guards to walk the streets in search for her.”
Augustus nodded. “But do so gently. No need to cause an uproar. We do not need the thoughts of witches to fill the minds of the people.”
“When we find her, I shall bring her to you. The execution of a witch should do well for your favor amongst the people.”
The cool breeze brushed against the exposed skin of Cassius’ face as he left Augustus’ estate. A smile crept across his face. He turned toward the brothel. After all, he deserved a treat after such a productive day.
Chapter Five
“A bounty?” Ellie fell backwards, lying prostrate on the grass. “Ugh…”
Magnus stood over her. “What is it that you say?” He thought for a moment. “The word on the street is that Cassius put a hefty sum on your head.”
Ellie smiled. “So this is what it’s like when grown-ups try to sound hip,” she said with a chuckle.
“What?”
Ellie shook her head. “A hefty sum, huh?”
Magnus took a seat next to her. “Yes, I heard it from my cousin. Apparently you are a witch.”
She sat up. “Do you believe them?”
Magnus grinned. “You are quite bewitching.”
When Truth Fails Page 2