Blood on the Water

by Mark Hildebrandt

  Claudius was not exaggerating about the wardrobe. It was full of every kind of garment Cassandra could possibly need, from formal to casual to swim wear. It was all there. For dinner she selected a simple green knee length silk frock and coordinating sandals. The color nicely highlighted her eyes and the smooth fitting silk accentuated her well-proportioned feminine figure. As she admired the effect in the mirror, she marveled that Claudius was able to supply such nicely fitting garments on such short notice.

  Downstairs, she saw James talking with Optio on the patio. He was sipping on red wine while Optio and the other members of the Decum were drinking beer. “I’m sorry for being late. The bath felt so good, I found it difficult to get out.” She said entering the patio. Before she could even finish her sentence, she was met by Claudius and given a glass of red wine.

  “It is a Chianti from your family vineyard, but if you prefer something else …”

  “No this is fine. Thank you.”

  She joined James and Optio, and tried to participate in the discussion, but found it difficult, because her mind was occupied with other thoughts. For one thing, James looked incredible. She had been pleased with the way her silk dress fit, but as she watched James and Optio, she couldn’t help but admire how faltering his silk tunic was. But there was something else. True, she thought, his firm body looked good in silk. Then again, she knew that from watching him in the tight-fitting battle fatigue undergarments. No, it was something else. She took another sip of wine and it finally struck her. “James you shaved the hair around your mouth!”

  He turned from Optio and looked at her with intense smiling green eyes and said, “Yes. I must say though. I’m disappointed it took you almost half a glass of wine to notice it. I always got the impression you did not like my goatee.”

  “Well,” she started, slightly embarrassed at the outburst, and because everyone in the room had turned to look at her, “It’s just that most Roman men are clean shaven. I wasn’t accustomed to facial hair.”

  “Should you prefer, I can grow it back in a week or two.”

  “No. I think I like it this way”

  “Dinner is served.” Was announced.

  Good she thought. Perhaps a change of scenery will help divert the others attention, and they will quit staring at her. Then she paused and wondered, why she should feel uncomfortable, she had never been bothered in the past when people stared at her. Is it James, or is it because for the first time in her life, she was surrounded by people who felt like friends?”

  Dinner was delicious, but Cassandra found she had a hard time remembering what was served once the dishes were cleared away. She just couldn’t seem to concentrate. The conversation was light and casual, and fortunately nothing was mentioned about Team two. She sat next to James and several times during the meal they exchanged intimate glances, and gentle discreet touches. Silk not only accentuated the physique, it also felt nice to the touch and to be touched in.

  Dinner was followed by an excellent desert, coffee and more discussion. The conversation was pleasant, but by that time Cassandra knew what she wanted, and it was something just a little more private. Finally, Optio seemingly understood her desire and ordered his men back to quarters. He then turned to Cassandra, “You have the signaling device. Should you need anything just press it, I will be here even quicker than that Claudius fellow. I will also post a roving patrol around the house all night. Sleep well, you will be safe here.” He smiled, and they left.

  When the door closed Cassandra reached over and turned James’s face to hers, at first, she just stroked his clean-shaven skin, then slowly she moved forward until lips met. The initial gentle kiss became more steeped in passion and need as their two bodies moved closer together. The sensitive caresses of silk clothing also became more urgent. She had been sitting all night thinking about this very thing. Now she was fulfilling the desire, but the more she got, the more she wanted. It became like an insatiable thirst. The kind of thirst where the only thing to drink is salt water, drinking it does not satisfy the thirst; it merely makes one want for more.

  Breathlessly she slowly broke the embrace. “James, come with me to the bed room.” She whispered in his ear. Nodding approval, but not vocalizing it, they both got up to leave. “Bring your wine, you might get thirsty later,” she said and grabbed the opened bottle.

  Inside the bedroom Cassandra closed and locked the door. She knew the lock was more symbolic than anything else but wanted James to understand this was their time. A soldier would not come running into the room and disturb them. With the door locked, she took James free hand and walked to the bed, placing the wine and glasses on the night side table, the two slid into each other’s arms. Cassandra was nuzzling and kissing James neck.

  Between hushed moans, he said in something of a broken whisper, “I have been waiting for this all night. Every time you touched me it was electrifying, I … “

  “Enough talk,” she muttered and pushed him down on the bed, still tangled in his arms and landing on top of him. The two laughed but soon found the laughter smothered with intimate kisses. The sensation was so intense Cassandra felt all her nerve endings were being stimulated by fire and ice at the same time. It was dizzying. Somehow during their light-headedness, clothes were removed and discarded randomly around the bed.

  The feel of a tender discrete touch through a fine silk dress earlier in the evening was exciting but could not be compared to that of exposed skin, stimulated with hands, mouth and tongue. All of which had transported her to a new universe, one she had never visited.

  This flood of sensual pleasure was completely unfamiliar, but she knew there was more, and she wanted it all. Still on top of James, she paused and looked into his eyes, and found a reflection of her own erotic needs. She bent back down and lightly kissed him and then reached around and guided him. The result almost left her unable to breath. The feeling was so intense; it seemed for a moment, it was the only sensation in the world. She realized the sensation was part physical and part emotional. All her feelings for James were imbedded in the intense physical stimulation from the coupling. It was impossible for her to distinguish one from the other, but the combination made her feel like she might cry out, so she leaned down and covered James’s mouth with hers. The intensity of the kiss was matched by the rhythmic rocking of their bodies. Skin against skin, mouth to mouth they moved, lost in themselves and lost in each other. Time lost all meaning, the universe became an illusion, and nothing existed but the two of them. A random thought passed through Cassandra’s mind how can this be? Then she was back with James, but he was now above her, and all she could do was hold on, for something deep inside was building, like a giant ocean breaker, it consumed her from one end to the other. As it grew, she was vaguely aware of James release when his voice cried out with a primal sound. A sound she heard as the wave crested and broke and engulfed her body.

  Tangled in arms and legs not wanting to move, Cassandra remained still and listened to a heartbeat, it was strong, regular, and its rate was slowly diminishing. Was it hers or was it James? She decided it didn’t make any difference at this moment, it seemed both were entangled every bit as much as their arms and legs. It was just a portion of the satisfaction and completeness she felt, and it was truly euphoric.

  She had no idea how long the two lay like that, unmoving. James had slid on his side facing her and was also lying on her arm, which had fallen asleep from the pressure. She wondered, listing to James’s regular breathing if he, like her arm, had fallen asleep. How could he? She wondered. She had never felt so alive. Her body was content to lie still, but it was tingling after that release; and her head was still spinning. “What an incredible science project you turned out to be.” She whispered mostly to herself, as she pushed hair from his forehead.

  “You’re pretty incredible too.” He muttered in response eyes still closed.

  “Oh, I thought you were asleep.” She said and softly kissed him, “Do you think I could get my ar
m back? I think all the pins and needles, I’m feeling, means it is upset with me.” With her arm back at her side, she grasped James’s hand and the two-lay side-by-side looking at the ceiling. “James, I’m going to have a difficult time sending you back.”

  He squeezed her hand and replied, “I am going to find it difficult to go back.”

  Chapter 31

  - Time to go back -

  Cassandra and James remained side-by-side talking for hours. There was no definable theme to the discussion. Cassandra was only aware of the feeling, but it felt every bit as satisfying as the lovemaking that enabled it to blossom. They paused a few times, refilling wine glasses and enjoying the fruity red Chianti. It was a special time and Cassandra didn’t want it to end. Much of what made it special was James, and clearly, he found the moment equally meaningful, which reinforced her feelings. Sometime just before dawn, the light was turned off, and they fell asleep once again entangled in each other’s arms and legs.

  A loud knocking at the door awoke them early. “Dr. Vespus.” Was heard through the still locked door. “Dr. Vespus, The Optio sent me to summons you. He said your brother, the Minister, is scheduled to call in thirty minutes.”

  “Very well tell him I will be down directly. Please have coffee and juice ready.” She said slowly getting out of bed. “Come on James, you better get up and get ready as well. I’m going to get into the shower.” But her voice seemed to have no effect, there was no movement under the covers. “You better be up by the time I get out, or else!” She giggled, hoping she might get the chance to exercise the ‘or else’.

  She turned on the shower and stood in the warm stream with her eyes closed. The shower had several heads supplying a warm spray from a variety of different directions. As she stood there, lost in the warmth and recalling the evening’s pleasures, she noticed the spray at her back had diminished. Opening her eyes and turning to summons a servant to make repairs, she discovered it was James blocking the water. He moved close and kissed her, “Good morning.”

  She kissed back, and then pushed him away. “You know it is not proper in Roman society for men and women to bath together?”

  He smiled brightly, “Well it is a good thing I’m not Roman, and it is a good thing we are far from Rome. But since we don’t want to keep your brother waiting, I suggest you turn around and I’ll wash your back, then you can get mine.” The shower was over long before Cassandra wanted it to end. She could have spent the whole day in there. It might not be proper Roman etiquette but having James as a shower mate was a lot more enjoyable then a bunch of gossipy old women.

  James had to sneak across the hall and return to his room for fresh clothing. The attire from the previous night was probably not suitable for a holo-discussion with Cassandra’s brother. After a playful wrestling match and several hours on the floor, the fine linen pants seemed to have lost that crisp edge.

  Cassandra spent a few minutes drying her hair then found a lightweight summer dress and went to join Optio. She was surprised to find James already with Optio, talking, drinking coffee, and what’s more, he was even appropriately dressed. This guy was full of surprises, she thought. She was served coffee, and the three went into the office for the call.

  ◆◆◆

  After the call, Cassandra suggested they get some breakfast. Optio declined, saying he had been up for hours and Lunch was not far away. He claimed he needed to make certain the rest of his Decum didn’t get fat and lazy in such elaborate digs, excused himself and left.

  “What exactly did you mean when you said you wanted to talk with Marcus that you wanted to have a ‘family discussion’?” James asked as they walked to the Triclinium.

  “Oh that. Well I told you, I was certain Marcus had either lied to me, or was at the very least keeping something secrete. I want to confront him directly. When we were young, that family discussion thing was our code for, ‘it’s time for one of us to tell the other a secret.’ I want to know what his secret is, and I’m going to find out.”

  As soon as they were seated, one of the kitchen servants noted their request for breakfast, and quickly departed. James put down his coffee, and asked, “If you think your brother is still hiding something from you then perhaps we should spend the rest of the day trying to solve the mystery?”

  “No.” She answered shaking her head, “Even if we could, I don’t think at this point there is much we can do about it, certainly not until we get back to Rome. I have been thinking about the philosopher you quoted. How did that go, something to the effect, once you rule out the obvious, the impossible must be the truth. That was it, wasn’t it?”

  “Close,” He said, “but I’m not sure I follow?”

  “Well, it convinced me that you and my experiments are part of Marcus’s grand plan. Kukulcan knows or suspects as much, but I guarantee my brother is the only person in this universe, who knows how everything comes together. So, we can spend the rest of the week in that study speculating on what exactly his plan is, and we may or may not get it right, or we can wait for a few days, and I’ll ask him when we get back to Rome.”

  “Do you think he will tell you?”

  “He always has in the past.”

  Breakfast arrived and was served. It consisted of a variety of breads, fruits, juices, eggs and smoked fish and meats. It was delicious and after little sleep it seemed to be just the thing to recharge the internal batteries. As Cassandra ate, she hoped she was right, Marcus would tell her what was going on, but even if he didn’t she was not about to spend these last few days with James cloistered in that damn study. They were going to enjoy what time was left, and that was that.

  Breakfast plates had been pushed away, and both admitted having eating too much when Optio appeared. “Dr. Vespus. May I ask how you were planning to spend the rest of the day? I would like to make arrangements with my men accordingly.”

  The formality of the question surprised Cassandra. She expected a more jocular tone considering all they had been through over the last few days. Oh well, she thought, and quickly pushed the concern aside, “I don’t know. What would you like to do James, how about a hike? Maybe pack a picnic lunch?”

  James smiled, “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

  “That’s it Optio, a hike. Perhaps while we change, you could review the maps and suggest a trail.”

  Optio nodded, “Very good. I will return shortly with a couple of suggestions.”

  Cassandra was once again amazed at the thoroughness of Claudius clothing selection. Both wardrobes contained a nice assortment of outdoors clothing, all of which fit as if made for them. Once properly dressed they were met by Optio in the study. He displayed a three-dimensional map of the area. “If you want to hike it will be necessary to leave the villa grounds. Now there are several trails that leave from the main gate, most are used to reach favored hunting stands. This one,” he said pointing, “Goes to this small lake, it is only a three-mile hike, so you should be able to make it a very leisurely walk.”

  “Perfect.” Both Cassandra and James said at the same time.

  “Very good … Here,” he said holding out a small knapsack, “I asked the kitchen to prepare a light lunch.”

  James took the knapsack and Cassandra asked, “What are you and the rest of the Decum going to do?”

  “I want the men to work on stealth maneuvers, these woods ought to be a good place to practice.” He bowed his head slightly and was gone.

  The trail was beautiful, but it was too narrow to walk side-by-side, so they started out with Cassandra walking in front. Something she regretted after going only a short distance. James was stumbling often, and since he was behind her, she could not see what the problem was. Clearly, he was not paying attention to the trail. She had no idea what was distracting him, and it was getting the point where she was beginning to feel self-conscious. Was there something in her gait? Was her butt to big?

  Finally, she had to stop, and when she did, James ran into her. “What the hell is w
rong with you? I walked with you for three days in the mountains out west – no problems, yet here on relatively flat terrain with all the tripping, it sounds like a heard of elephants behind me. Are you laughing at my butt?”

  “No. I wasn’t even looking at you.” He said confusion settling into his expression, but he quickly regained his composure, “Ordinarily I can’t take my eyes off your backside while we are hiking, it’s just, I was so captivated by the trees. This is clearly old growth forest. I’m sorry I was watching the trees and not the trail.”

  She started to fire back with a couple carefully aimed barbs about how he found trees more fun to look at than her, but the almost childlike enthusiasm he derived from looking at the forest was contagious, even though she didn’t know why. “James, I don’t understand. What do you mean old growth? What is so special about the trees?”

  “Old growth, virgin forest. You know forest that has not been logged off.”

  Cassandra put her hands on her hips and stared at him. “You are not helping. What do you mean logged off? I don’t understand.”

  James quit looking up and focused on Cassandra, “I’m sorry. Let me try to explain. In my universe, essentially all the forests on the continent have, over the years, been cut down for timber. Some were then farmed, and some were allowed to return to forest, only to be cut down again. It is almost impossible to find forest like this. Just look at the size of these trees, the canopy must be one hundred twenty or hundred thirty feet above us.”