Destined for a Deity (Mark of Mars)

by Juliet Anderson

  Julius and Luke chose the wrong moment to enter the main room. Jenna was bleeding out in Mars arms and Minerva was straining Apollo.

  Several flashing of gold light filled the room. Julius saw Ajax and another guard take Apollo away, whilst Jupiter dealt with Mars and Jenna. Soon it was just Minerva left. She turned to face them.

  “It seems we owe you our thanks again, young Julius,” she touched his cheek.

  “Jenna carries some of Mars’ life force still. She will recover won’t she?” Julius’ small voice betrayed his anguish.

  “She was pierced with celestial bronze, my brother’s life force cannot save her from that. My father will do what he can.”

  “Can I go see her?”

  “Not this time, my friend. Mars will want to be alone with her, especially if these are to be her last moments.”

  The tears ran down Julius’ face. “She cannot die, she is immortal.”

  “Then pray Jupiter can save her.” Minerva kissed his forehead. “You should return your friends to their families, they will be worrying too. The Olympus Guard will see you all home safety.”

  “Will you let me know how Jenna does?”

  “Of course.”

  Luke pulled Julius away, his heart was crumbling. Jenna was an unstoppable force, she could not die. It was unthinkable.

  Ajax reappeared outside and took hold of Julius and Portia and transported right into Senator Laurentius’ house.

  “Forgive the intrusion, Senator, Mars asked me to return these two safely to you.” He bowed and vanished as quickly as he had appeared.

  Laurentius scooped up his daughter and held her tight. “Thank Jupiter you are safe,” he kissed her cheeks.

  “I am fine, Papa, but Jenna is not.” The tears poured down her cheeks.

  Laurentius looked at Julius’ tear stained face and drew the boy to him. There was no celebration in the Senator’s household that night, just an outpouring of grief.

  CHAPTER 27

  The pain running through her veins was excruciating. If she was dead then she was most definitely in Hell as Heaven could not possibly hurt this much. Around her she could hear a strange language, cool hands were on her body, but she wished the agony would stop.

  As if her prayers had been answered, something flowed through her like a powerful painkiller, leaving her floating on a soft cloud. Wonderful. Slowly, as if wakening from a drugged sleep, she opened her eyes. Those black ones she knew so well looked a little strange, they were watery. She closed her eyes again, the lids were too heavy.

  She awoke later from her blissful sleep. Those same black eyes were still watching her. She managed a sleepy smile this time. As she dozed again, she tried to recall where she was with Marcus. Nothing came to her for a while, then it hit her hard. She let out a blood curdling scream and sat bolt upright clutching her stomach.

  Mars pushed her back down on the bed. “Hush, my love. You are still very weak.”

  “I am dead.”

  “No. You are in the healing room in Olympus.”

  “Again?”

  “Yes.” He held her hand tight. “Will you ever be able to forgive me?”

  “I chose to put myself in front of your blade,” she wiped away the tears from his face. “I could not let you live with the consequences of killing your brother.”

  “Those I could have borne, but to lose you by my own hand would have been my end.”

  “But we have a happy outcome, do we not?”

  “You will recover, that is what is most important,” he dropped a light kiss on her lips.

  “And Apollo?”

  “Behind bars for a very long time.”

  “Partly for his own protection, I would guess.”

  “Yes. If I were to see him again whilst the pain is still raw of what he made me do, I would take his life without a second thought.”

  Jenna slipped her arms around his neck as she kissed him. “Please promise me you will do no such thing. I’d hate to think I went through all this pain for nothing.”

  “I cannot promise that, but I will do my utmost not to disappoint you.”

  “I guess I will have to settle for that,” she grunted. “And I now understand what you meant about celestial bronze, it does kind of sting like a bitch.”

  “That it does.” He stroked the side of her face. “I assigned Ajax to protect you. I need to know, did he fail somewhere?”

  “No. We were stopped by two Praetorian saying the Emperor was in a residence close by and needed to talk with me. I didn’t doubt for a moment they weren’t genuine, although something was not right about Trajan which I should have picked up on quicker.”

  “What was it?”

  “He did not recognise Portia or Florentina. But sadly that did not register until later. Did you track me through my wrist band?”

  “Luke did. Julius found you through his network of street friends.”

  “Portia and Florentina?” Jenna attempted to sit up but Mars pushed her back down.

  “They are safely back with their families. I think Florentina was rather impressed having Luke rescue her.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes. He’s not altogether useless with sword apparently,” Mars smirked. The boy had surprised him by showing such courage, but then he suspected it had much to do with Florentina.

  “And dear Julius. What would I do without him?”

  “Turn my hair prematurely white,” he grunted.

  Jenna reached up and kissed him gently. “I didn’t think that was possible. You’re not supposed to start looking old for millennia yet.”

  “Am I disturbing?” Jupiter’s deep voice echoed in the stark room.

  “No, come on in,” Mars released Jenna.

  “How are you, my dear?” Jupiter squeezed her hand.

  “Feeling relatively alright,” Jenna responded, trying to sit up. “But as Mars has not yet let me get up, I cannot confirm that.”

  “You are recovering from a major injury,” Jupiter fixed her with a hard stare. “You must take things easy.”

  “I thought with immortal blood I recovered quickly.”

  Jupiter glanced at his son. “Could you give us a moment alone?”

  Mars nodded and left the room.

  “I get the feeling there is something you are not telling me? Bad news I suspect.” Jenna’s blue eyes studied his face intently.

  “There is something I need to tell you, “Jupiter let out a heavy sigh. “But it is not bad news, really.”

  “I’m listening,” she sat up.

  “Mars’ life force was not enough to heal you.”

  “So I am dying?” she said softly.

  “No, my dear. We would never let you go. But to save you, I had to turn you fully.”

  “Turn me into what?” Jenna’s mind was racing, she had images of vampires and mythical creatures.

  “An Immortal.”

  Jenna looked at her skin. “I’m not shimmering.”

  “That gift comes when you marry Mars, along with the ability to transport. In the meantime though you are completely immortal.”

  “I don’t want to be immortal,” Jenna murmured. “Not yet at any rate.”

  “I’m aware you wanted to delay your immortality, but we had no choice. It was either that or lose you.”

  “Can it be reversed?”

  “No. The transition is complete.”

  “Do I have to stay in Olympus?”

  “Of course not. You are quite at liberty to resume your daily life.”

  “Am I permitted to return to my home?”

  “If you mean McVale or Acquae Sulis, you can go temporarily. You home is here in Rome. And before you say you do not belong in Rome, the Imperial Palace, the households of Laurentius, Tiberius, Marcellus, two temples and half the children of the city are virtually in mourning. My temple has been overrun with people offering up prayers for your return. Julius has spent the entire day in there. So not dare say you have no place here. You bind so man
y elements of the city together.”

  “Would I argue with the God of Gods,” Jenna gave him half a smile. “Will you be honest with me and tell me how Mars is doing?”

  “He cannot forgive himself for what has happened even though it was an accident. Only you can help him over that so please go easy on him over the whole immortality issue.”

  “I will. How is Juno handling the imprisonment of her favourite son?”

  “It is lucky he is behind bars as I think she would probably have run him through herself for what he did. His whole abduction plan triggered off this chain of events, and had you not made the ultimate sacrifice, my family would be destroyed.”

  “How so?”

  “Mars would have killed Apollo, I would had to have terminated him for killing a sibling even though it might have been warranted, and Minerva would never have spoken to me again.”

  Jenna slipped off the bed. “Can I go back to Rome?”

  “Perhaps tomorrow when you are stronger. But you will stay with Mars for a few days, the temple is no place for someone recovering from such an injury.” Jupiter opened the door. Mars was waiting outside. “Take her back to your quarters. She is ready.”

  Mars came in and swept her up, transporting straight into his bedroom.

  “I thought I was still recovering,” she murmured in his ear.

  “You are, and that is not going to happen, at least not today.” He laid her down gently on the bed. “Did my father explain what has happened?”

  “Yes, although I’m rather disappointed I don’t shimmer.”

  Mars allowed himself a rare smile. “We have to keep something back until you slip on that wrist band.”

  Jenna stroked his handsome face. “I will accept my immortality as long as you agree to forgive yourself for what was ultimately my fault.”

  He looked away from her. “I almost killed you.”

  “But you didn’t. And I do not want to look into those wonderful black eyes every day and see remorse and self-loathing. I want to see love and happiness.”

  “You should hate me for taking your choice away.”

  “Quit with the self-pity,” Jenna grunted. “You’re been telling me from the moment you saw my birthmark that I had no choice in the matter. Now shut up and remind me why I want to spend eternity with you.”

  “Are you giving an order to a God?” he raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes, being immortal does give me some privileges does it not?”

  “Not until you become a Goddess, and even then as a man, I will out-rank you,” he dropped a series of light kisses on her lips.

  “Time to bring equality to Olympus,” Jenna sighed pulling him to her.

  Florentina was curled up on some cushions in the peristyle. She felt so wretched, not knowing whether Jenna had survived or not. Although having seen the amount of blood she had lost, it was highly unlikely. She brushed away a stray tear, she needed to remain strong for Luke. He would be devastated if the worst happened to his friend.

  Her father strode in, dropping down beside her. “The whole of Rome has fallen to chaos. The Emperor is not seeing anyone at the moment, Laurentius and Aurelius likewise.”

  “Jenna is much loved in the city, father.”

  “So it seems. But why, she is not Roman?”

  “She is braver than anyone I have met and has risked her life many times for the city. Yesterday it seemed she stopped Mars from killing Apollo.”

  “I do not understand why Apollo would abduct her, she serves him.”

  “Brotherly feuds, I believe. She is protected by Mars.”

  “And you actually spoke to Minerva?”

  “Yes,” Florentina smiled for the first time that day. “She was awesome.”

  A servant was hovering nearby. “You have a visitor, Florentina. Luke from Mars’ temple.”

  Florentina jumped to her feet. “Show him out here, please.”

  She did not miss her father’s brief scowl as she fussed with her hair. “Be nice, papa. He did after all rescue me.”

  Luke rushed out and took hold of her hands. “Are you well?”

  “Yes. Desperate for news.” Florentina studied his face for any clues.

  “Mars has confirmed she will survive. He will return her to Marshall Vilnus’ villa tomorrow to recover fully.”

  “That is wonderful,” Florentina rested her head on his shoulder, overcome by emotion.

  “And you bear no ill effects from the abduction?”

  Florentina snorted in an unladylike fashion. “Oh please, the worst I had to deal with was listening to an eight year old girl whine and chatter, and attempt to braid my hair with pink ribbons.”

  “A rare and cruel torture,” Tiberius made his presence known. He was pleased to notice Luke took a very definite step back from his daughter. He extended his hand to Luke. “I understand it is you I have to thank for my daughter’s freedom.”

  “I was only glad to have been able to help, although I cannot take the credit alone. A young friend of Jenna’s was with me.”

  “Has the Emperor been informed?”

  “Marshall Vilnus was on his way there.”

  “Good,” she breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I need to get to Apollo’s temple to update Amelia. I will see you again.”

  “You will,” Florentina smiled. She turned back to her father after Luke had left. “What?”

  “Your affections lie with a temple priest?”

  “For now, yes. He is so interesting, educated and cultured. A noble from a far off land.”

  “These Arulians are beginning to interest me. It seems Rome holds them in high regard, especially the Emperor. Am I missing something?”

  “Jenna is a ward of Emperor Trajan. He promised her late father he would look out for her.”

  “Ward indeed,” Druscilla’s voice made Florentina jump. She had not seen her mother approach. “Anyone can see they are virtually mirror images of each other.”

  Tiberius looked at his wife bemused. “I do not follow.”

  “Jenna is his illegitimate daughter, I’ll wager. Watch them the next time they are together, their mannerisms are identical.”

  “That would explain why he is so attached to her. But did she not arrive in Rome only recently?”

  “Yes. But children always find their way home.”

  “Spreading rumours like that, mother, can land you in deep water with the Emperor, even more so with his wife.”

  Druscilla waved her hand dismissively. “Everyone at the Baths says it is so.”

  “Well, you can set them on the correct path. That you had confirmation she is his ward only.”

  “And why should I try and set the rumour straight?”

  “For Jenna’s protection. Even being an illegitimate child of an Emperor can put one’s life in danger.”

  Julius had not left Jupiter’s temple all day, he was praying with everything he had that Jupiter would save Jenna. She was protected by his son after all. Jenna had changed his life irrevocably, he owed all his good fortune to her. All his family did.

  He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder.

  “Ajax,” he murmured.

  Ajax smiled and extended his hand. “You have been requested to attend Olympus.”

  “Is she…?” Julius could not bring himself to say the words.

  “Very much alive.”

  A few second later, Julius was in beautiful golden living room. Mars turned to greet him. “It seems once again I have to thank you for divulging Jenna’s location.”

  “You injured her,” Julius glared at him.

  “I did regrettably. But Jenna has forgiven me and apparently so must I as well.” Mars knelt down before him. “Jenna is the most precious being to me. What happened was a tragic accident, but one I am glad to say that has a happy outcome.”

  “How did it happen?”

  “She tried to stop me killing Apollo. Next time hopefully she will not try and get between two feuding brothers.” />
  “Unlikely,” Julius grunted.