Mark of Mars

by Juliet Anderson

  “Are you trying to tell me you were loose on the streets of Rome with a sword?” Gaius asked incredulously.

  “Me?” Jenna giggled. “Perish the thought!”

  “I always said you were trouble through and through,” Gaius groaned. “But on a serious note, that was a very generous thing you did for Maia.”

  “Hey, the opportunity presented itself. I did think about asking for that fabulous statue of Mars you have in the temple, but couldn’t see how we would get it through the gateway.”

  Gaius rolled his eyes. “I think it time we returned Dr Poulssen to his rightful era. He’s going to needs weeks of therapy after this field trip.”

  It was dark when Jenna awoke. She was still under the canopy, surrounded by hundreds of candles. Aius was starting to lay out dinner. She was shocked how much she had slept over the past couple of days, it was as though she was continually inhaling a sleeping drought.

  “Is the Marshall home, Aius?”

  “He is in his study, my lady. I shall fetch him for dinner.”

  Jenna rose shakily to her feet, her legs felt incredibly wobbly. Hardly surprising really as Marcus wouldn’t let her walk anywhere. “There‘s no need, Aius. I’ll go.”

  Marcus was lying on a soft bench, fast asleep. He looked beautiful, as though he had been carved out of marble. Jenna felt her stomach do a little somersault, even in sleep he could affect her. She bent down and brushed her lips ever so lightly across his. He slowly responded, enjoying the gentleness of the moment.

  “I must be in Elysium,” he murmured, not opening his eyes.

  “Not yet, I hope,” Jenna breathed in his ear, before nipping the lobe. His eyes shot open, making her heart skip a beat or two. “Dinner is ready.”

  “Hunger is not at the forefront of my mind right now,” he growled huskily, pulling her head down so he could kiss her again.

  Jenna gave him a couple of minutes before pulling away. “Come, we need to eat.”

  He groaned and got to his feet. “Fine. One day you will fall for my charms, Jenna.”

  Sprawled out next to Marcus on the couch, Jenna broached the subject of her return home. “I need to return to Arula tomorrow for a short time.”

  “Out the question,” Marcus grunted.

  “I wasn’t asking your permission, Marcus. I need to go back for couple of days.”

  “Jenna, Arula is not within two days ride of Rome.”

  “No, but I have a quicker mode of transport.”

  “The gateway in Mars’ temple?”

  Jenna choked on the wine. Had she heard him right? “What gateway?”

  “The one I saw you disappear through the first time you visited Rome with your friends.”

  Jenna was shocked. How had he seen her? Then she remembered. “You were the figure in black I caught a glimpse of?”

  “Yes. And you are a time walker?”

  Time walker, she liked that. “Of sorts. We are only here to learn about history. To live it.”

  “How far in the future are you from?”

  “Nearly two millennia,” her voice was a little squeaky.

  “Two millennia?” he was genuinely astounded. “You must think us a rather backward civilisation.”

  “On the contrary, Rome will never lose its historical significance. Rome’s influence is felt for millennia over most of the known world. Its legacy lives on. In fact parts of it still stand in my era.”

  “It is good to know. But that aside, I cannot let you go through the gateway, Jenna. I have no guarantee that you will return.” He got up off the couch and refilled his wine goblet.

  “I am only going back for a medical check, Marcus. And to prove to my relatives that I still live.”

  “What if your people will not let you return?”

  “I have broken a few rules, but they have not yet exiled a student.”

  He came and sat down beside her, taking hold of her shoulders. “I almost lost you yesterday, Jenna. I cannot take that risk again.”

  For the first time, Jenna saw just how vulnerable he was. She was the only person that could actually hurt him. She had melted a lot of the ice around his heart and he was doing all he could to protect it.

  “Think about it logically. If I disappear without a trace, Emperor Trajan may start to ask questions. And then all eyes will be on Mars’ temple as that is where Gaius is based. They will have no choice but to let me return.”

  “Is Amelia going with you?”

  “No, it’s just me.”

  “At least then I will have a hostage if you do not reappear in two days’ time.”

  Jenna smiled and took hold of his hand. “Just make sure Augustus takes her captive, then she will have no complaints.” She saw the corners of his mouth twitch. “I might even return after one day if they will let me. The medical should not take long and I should have had my fill of certain goods I cannot get here.” The thought of chocolate was making her mouth water.

  “So it seems I have no choice but to let you go.” He looked away from her, trying to shield the pain he was currently feeling.

  Jenna knelt up and took his head in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “Has it ever crossed your limited Roman mind that I may not be willing to let you go? I finally meet a man who I want to be with and he is two thousand years older than me.”

  A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. He was actually a lot older than that. “You really care for me?”

  “Yes, didn’t I just say that?” Jenna rolled her eyes. “Handsome but thick!”

  “I think it time you stopped talking and put that mouth of yours to a better use,” he muttered before pushing her back down on the couch.

  Wrapped in Marcus’ strong arms, Jenna wondered how Elysium could be any better.

  CHAPTER 31

  Marcus had Gaius shown into his study early the next morning.

  “You asked to see me, Marshall?”

  “Yes. I’ll come straight to the point. I am aware that you, Jenna and your friends are travellers from another time.” He held up his hand to stop Gaius from speaking. “I have seen Jenna and her friends go through your gateway before my own eyes.”

  “That day you came into the back of the temple?”

  “Yes. Your secret is safe with me. I have no interest in meddling with time. My only concern is that Jenna returns to Rome within the next two days.”

  “I’m sure she will.”

  “Rest assured that if she does not come back, I have the ability to seriously mess up history and blur time.”

  Gaius stared at him a little in awe. A power crazed Roman with the knowledge of time travel could seriously screw with history. He had to make sure Jenna came back.

  “You have my word she will return on time.”

  “Good,” Marcus stood up. “I will return her later this morning to the temple.”

  Jenna felt mixed emotions as she rode over to Mars’ temple on the back of Marcus’ horse. She was happy to return to McVale for a brief spell, but also had a nagging worry at the back of her mind that they might not let her return. That this could be the last time she saw Marcus. She tightened her hold around his waist.

  He dismounted at the entrance to the Forum of Augustus and escorted her through to the temple. He pressed his lips against her forehead. “Hurry back, my love,” he murmured and then was gone.

  Jenna was pleased, she did not want a painful goodbye. Gaius looked relieved as she crossed the temple.

  “I thought we might have to wrestle you from him,” he sighed.

  “Luckily he doesn’t have much experience with twenty-first century women,” Jenna feigned a smile. “It is gateway open?”

  “Yes, through you go.”

  Professor Daniels was waiting on the other side.

  “It’s good to see you back on your feet, Jenna. I’m instructed to take you straight to Medical.”

  “As long as Dr Poulssen doesn’t want any more blood,” she groaned. “More importantly, is there any chance I ca
n get my hands on a very large cappuccino?”

  The Professor laughed. “It always either coffee or chocolate that students crave. I’ll ask cook to drop one by Medical for you.”

  Jenna changed first back into jeans and a sweater before heading to the Medical Department. It felt so weird being back in twenty-first century clothing. Dr Poulssen was as welcoming as always.

  “Any changes since yesterday.”

  “No. I’m feeling stronger every day,” she replied.

  “I’ve scheduled in a quick body scan, then you’re free to do whatever it is you need to.”

  A short while later, Jenna was curled up in her bedroom with her coffee. She knew she should feel happy at being back at the Institute for a short stint, but all she felt was longing. Longing for a man born two thousand years ago. She’d gone back in time to study, not to fall for its most high profile citizen. She hugged her parents’ photo; right now she could do with her mother’s advice on how to handle her relationship with Marcus. But that was not possible. It wouldn’t have been even if she were still alive. She let out a frustrated howl. Men were nothing but a pain in the bum.

  She fired up her laptop and set about writing up notes about her experiences, the ones that she could tell the Professor about. After many hours of writing, she logged onto Facebook and chatted to a few friends. They wanted to know what she had been up to, why they’d not heard from her for so long. I’ve been in Ancient Rome, fighting battles and getting up close and personal with a rather delicious military figure, she wanted to shout. Instead she was telling them about a fictitious dig in the middle of nowhere.

  Before she knew it, cook had sent up a dinner tray. She could not believe most the day had passed. That night she dreamt of Marcus. Except it wasn’t him, but someone very similar who had the most magnificent golden aura. He haunted her dreams the entire night. And her birthmark was itching up a storm again.

  Professor Daniels headed back to the Medical wing, he had had another call from Doctor Poulssen.

  “Ah, Daniels,” Dr Poulssen waved him over to his workbench. “Have a look at this?” He indicated for the Professor to look through his microscope.

  “What am I looking for?” Daniels asked.

  “Just look at the sample,” the doctor instructed. He then switched to another sample. “Now look at this one.”

  Professor Daniels was not quite sure what he was looking at, but even he knew the two blood samples were different. The second one seemed to have a great deal of activity in it.

  “The first sample was Jenna’s blood from her first day here at the Institute. The second sample was taken from her yesterday.”

  The Professor was at a loss. Even though he was not a medical man, he knew something was not right. “Has she caught something we have missed?”

  Dr Poulssen shook his head. “What you are looking at are cells repairing and renewing themselves. I have to say I have never seen this before, it is unique.”

  “You’re saying she’s quite healthy, then?”

  “Healthy?” the doctor laughed a tad manically. “If her blood keeps this up, she’ll be…dare I say it…. immortal.”

  The Professor looked at him incredulously, he could not be serious. “What the hell was in that elixir they gave her?”

  “That too is quite unique. There is not one element which is recognisable. A shame really as we could be holding the key to curing terminal illness.”

  “This is an ancient Roman potion. It has to have derived from a plant or mineral. Can you synthesize it?”

  “Sadly not.”

  “What do you recommend?”

  “I want another sample from Jenna tomorrow, to see if the activity has slowed.”

  “She’ll be thrilled,” sighed the Professor.

  As he headed back to his study, a thought popped into his head. Completely illogical, but one he wanted to follow up nonetheless. It was time he looked into Jenna’s background. Too many peculiarities were starting to appear and he did not believe in coincidence.

  CHAPTER 32

  Amelia was shocked to find Julius in the temple on his own. For one heart-stopping moment, she thought something might have happened to Augustus.

  “Julius, what brings you here,” she headed over to the small boy.

  “Augustus told me Jenna has gone. Is that true?”

  A lump rose in her throat when she saw the disappointment in the child’s face. “She is only gone for two days Julius. She will be back tomorrow, that I can assure you.” Either that or the McVale teaching staff on this side of the gateway would find themselves at the Colosseum, and not as spectators.

  “Really?” his face lit up.

  “Yes. You don’t suppose the Marshall would allow her to be away for long?”

  “Does he like being with Jenna too?”

  “Very much so,” Amelia giggled, looking out the front of the temple. “What have you done with your brother?”

  “He’s on patrol,” Julius shrugged.

  “You came here on your own?” Amelia was a little shocked.

  He nodded. “I’m often out on my own.”

  Amelia’s twenty-first century sensibilities came to the fore. She could not have a ten year old child running around such a violent city on his own. “Stay with me until Cassandra gets back, then I shall walk you home.” She shooed him into the back room.

  Julius was more than happy to sit around eating some food and playing with Ares, in fact it was hard to separate them when the time came to leave.

  “Can’t I take him with me until Jenna gets back?” Julius groaned.

  “He was a gift from the Marshall. I don’t think he’ll be too happy if Ares was abducted.”

  “He gave Jenna a cat?”

  “I think to try and stop her climbing trees,” Amelia laughed. “But I don’t think that will work.”

  “I miss Jenna,” Julius grumbled. “Did you know there was an attack on the Emperor a few days ago?”

  “I heard rumour of it,” Amelia kept a straight face. Jenna’s involvement had been kept relatively quiet so there would be no repercussions on Apollo’s temple from disillusioned conspirators.

  “I wish I’d been there. I would have killed as many assassins as the Marshall was rumoured to have done.”

  “Don’t be in too much of a hurry to grow up, Julius.” She rested her hand fondly on his shoulders. “Once you’re a man, life just gets scarier and you wish you stayed a child longer.”

  “I want to become the youngest and best swordsman in Rome.” He waved an imaginary sword.

  “If you want to be truly great, there is a lot more than just swinging a sword about.”

  “How so?” his enquiring little face looked up at her.

  “Emperor Trajan was truly great at military strategy, leading as well as sword fighting. That is someone you should try and emulate.”

  “But he was born noble, Amelia,” Julius reminded her.

  “And you can rise to be noble. Don’t forget that some of the great Generals we have are not Roman by birth. They earned their place in society.”

  “Are all girls this smart in Arula?” Julius scowled up at her.

  “You could say Jenna and I are a breed apart.” She flung her wrap over her head. “Let’s get you home, young warrior.”

  It did amuse Amelia that children chattered incessantly whatever the era. Julius barely drew breath until they were half-way to his house. And he only stopped because Marshall Vilnus was blocking the street on his horse. Amelia had to admit, that the brute did strike quite a cutting figure. He walked his horse over and nodded at Amelia.

  “What have you been up to today, young Julius?”

  Julius scuffed the cobbled with his sandals. “Not much. I went to see when Jenna is back.”

  “Do you know?” Marcus looked at Amelia.

  “Tomorrow,” Amelia said rather loudly to both of them. “She was only ever going for two days, so will be back tomorrow morning.”

  “I�
�ve been playing with Ares,” Julius announced brightly. “He’s a nice present to get.”

  Marcus gave a rare smile in public. “I’m glad you approve.” He glanced over his shoulder and barked instructions at a couple of soldiers. “Your brother is not far away, I’ll have him take you the rest of the way home. The mood on the streets is still a quite tense.”