Chapter 4. Inside the Walls of Hell

VESTA

“I have told you repeatedly to mind your relationship with those savages, have I not?” A disorienting slap descended on Xerxes’ cheek, and I cringed. I was sure the velocity had caused the stars to leave his eyes, but I forced my amusement down my throat lest I got into trouble.

Standing like a statue in my cheap blue dress, I was holding an empty silver tray and making extra effort to stay unnoticed since my appearance was oftentimes the bane of me. I had cut my rosy hair to neck length and ensured that my clothes were oversized in order to become the ugliest version of myself. Still, I was afraid my light brown eyes, the angular curve of my brows, the sleekness of my dirty yellow skin, and my high cheekbones would give me away.

I had been helped to this new, high-wage job and would not like to mess it up, knowing how inherently promiscuous Roman males were with random women, let alone in the company of a woman of my looks.

“Apologies, Father…”

“Apologies, my foot!” Senator Garmelius’ voice echoed through the four walls of the hall. I raised my brows to take a peep at the scene, only to see him folding his lips in self-righteous pity while pacing around restlessly with his white raiment sweeping the brown-tile floor. The way his head was bald in the middle and rich at the edges reminded me of an outlandish coconut I saw in the market this morning.

I threw my face away in an attempt to focus on anything but him lest I burst into hearty giggles. I passed my gaze from the blue-tiled pillars to the flashy lanterns and the glistening pool beside a lush, verdant garden. Truth be told, although evening had come, everything in space still glistened and stank of riches, power, and fame.

“I heard about the girl you were caught frolicking with in public yesterday, a foreigner! The son of a Roman senator with a bloody barbarian savage? Have you gone mad? Do you wish to ruin my reputation or bid to become the next Cesar?”

“Father, I have no such intentions. I love her…” Before the boy’s sentence was complete, another slap descended on his face, the sound causing me to stagger backward as if I were at the receiving end of it.

Knowing I was the one who was being discussed amused me even more since I had repeatedly refused the young man’s advances.

The trickling lies in the story simply served to increase the allure and my intrigue because Xerxes never listened and didn’t care if I was married with a five-year-old daughter or even the fact that I was several years older than him. Perhaps his descent from a powerful family had left him with no sense.

“Fool…” Senator Garmelius cursed, raising a hand to smite him again before the sound of approaching footsteps forced him to stop and sigh.

“Senator Pointus is here to see you, Dominus,” the chief warden announced from a distance.

He adjusted his collar and steadied his belt. “We shall return to this matter later,” he whispered and whipped around sharply to face the dark-skinned warden.

“Let him in,” he heaved, waving a hand at the barely clothed steward who bowed and left gracefully. He dusted his sleeves, adjusting his rainbow-colored robe while muttering some incoherent curses and flashing accusatory glances at his son at intervals.

As soon as a slightly overweight man strode in, clothed in a silky white raiment with two red strips at the edges, his countenance quickly flipped into a warm, magnanimous one. An elaborate smile even perused his face.

“Pointus, my brother.” He spread his arms for a hug, but the chubby man arrogantly declined. The look on his face was nothing to write home about. He stared sharp daggers at Garmelius for a bit before tossing a scroll at him.

“Would you care to explain this nonsense?” he fumed.

“Explain what?”

“This unraveling story from the North!” He stomped his feet impatiently as Garmelius carefully picked up and unrolled the scroll.

“Let me see…” He began to devour the contents with apparent intrigue.

I struggled to maintain a stern facial expression since I was wondering if I should remain there, given the circumstances. Perhaps I should have walked out gently without being dismissed. But wouldn’t that have caused attention to be drawn to me?

“Unrest in the Core North, fear of decimation of the troops…” Garmelius read out a line.

“This information must not reach the Senate…” Pointus cut in. “It will ruin your chances.”

“What are you talking about? This could be my moment. If I go north and lead them to victory…”

“You will do no such thing, for if you leave Rome, that’s the end of your campaign for that seat.”

“Pointus, it is a matter of national security. Someone will eventually do it and take the glory from it.”

“Let the soldiers do their work, Garmelius, and let the politicians play politics. Listen carefully; if word of this gets out to the Senate, Caesar Augustus will use every bit of it to extend his legacy, weaken his opposition, and buy more time. You will stand no chance by the time he’s finished.”

“Let me do this my way, Pointus. Lives are at stake here, and I am a soldier.”

“You were a soldier, damn it! Now you’re a politician. The earlier you accept it, the better for us all.” There was a brief silence between the two as they glared into each other’s eyes with stern stares that said a thousand words.

Pointus adjusted his stance before continuing. “This information dies with us. If not, you have me to contend with. You must pay me back for my investments in your campaign tenfold!” He whipped around and began to stomp out, not minding Garmelius’ agitated expression.

“Come on, senator. It has not come to that,” Garmelius nearly sang.

“It has!” Pointus’ voice echoed from the lobby.

“Damn!” He tossed the scroll into the pool. “Damn you, Pointus!”

A lopsided smile vaguely appeared on my face. It was not every day I got to see my employer being bullied by someone bigger than him. For me, whatever was happening in the North was perfect for a good laugh over dinner with my husband. After all, his favorite topic was military gossip, especially if it concerned politics and war. He fancied himself a general.

The sound of approaching footsteps snapped me out of my head. I looked in the direction of the sound only to see Xerxes approaching me.

“Son, you will say no word of this to anyone!” Garmelius warned.

“Of course, Father. Why would I?” he replied, but as soon as he reached me, he halted and frowned. I saw that his white, spotless face had been smeared red, and his eyes had grown smart with tears. The way his lips were pursed was enough to tell of his rage.

“Follow me,” he commanded, and I obliged. After all, it was my job. However, my pulse began to race as he led me past his father, whose gaze trailed our motion keenly, down to a darker lobby. Then he stopped and edged closer. I began to retrace my steps until my back was against a cold wall.

“What are you doing?” I wondered aloud. By then, his musky scent had filled my nose, and his tall figure reminded me of the few inches I lacked in height.

“Kiss me,” he commanded.

“I’m neither your slave nor your mistress, Xerxes,” I scoffed, but while my words still lingered in my mouth, a tingling knife-like sensation grew on my cheek. And for a millisecond, I let myself freeze in time in an attempt to recollect what had just happened.

“Did you just…” He shut me up with a wild, forceful entanglement of lips. Since I did not want his father to hear my echoes, I remained like a statue, with hate pouring out of my pores. This agony kept bloating inside me until I was forced to bite his lower lip. He grunted and surprised me with his folded fist, landing on my jaw.

A throbbing headache followed, breaking my skull into pieces. I groaned and touched my lips, only to see blood on my fingers. He grabbed my neck, bringing his face so close to me that I could smell his breath.

“You will meet me in the market square by this time tomorrow. There, I will relay my instructions to you. Understood?”

“Damn you!” I let out my spittle on his face. He simply hardened his grip on my neck so much that I felt my veins popping. And as I gasped for air, life seemingly seeped out of me, painstakingly, slowly.

“As you can see, I own you now.”

“Please…” I managed to let out as several excruciating seconds trickled by in this posture.