Victoria

It’s like I walked straight into a picture-book.

The mansion is beautiful. Marble columns. A fountain flanked by two statues of gorgeous, naked men. Built on a hill, overlooking the sprawling city down below.

In one word: Gorgeous.

“Is this the place?” I ask.

“It is,” Nero says as he opens the gate for me. “The Livius estate.”

We walk up to the giant wooden doors. Nero knocks twice. The massive doors open with a creak. A small, light blue man with gills in his neck stands in front of us, looking at us with disdain.

“Yes?”

“We’re here to see Virgil,” Nero says.

“He’s not seeing guests.”

The fish-like man tries to close the door, but Nero stops it dead in his tracks with his fist.

“It’s urgent,” he growls. “Tell him it’s about Marcius.”

The servant rolls his eyes and leaves. Nero holds the door open for me. The interior of the mansion is even more beautiful than the outside. There’s a massive staircase, statues and rugs everywhere…

An old man comes walking down the stairs, slowly, one step at a time, flanked by the alien servant.

“Who is that?” he asks. “Do you know where my son is?”

“I do not, Virgil,” Nero says. “In truth, I was hoping you could tell me.”

“Is that… why, if it isn’t Nero Octavius,” the old man answers. He turns to his servant. “Leave us.”

The old man hasn’t even seemed to notice me, despite my revealing dress, and the collar around my neck. It’s like I’m not even there.

“Follow me, young Nero. I do believe we need to sit down for this conversation.”

He turns back and walks up the stairs, going ever so slowly.

“Do you need help?” Nero asks.

“I don’t need your help boy,” Virgil snaps.

I wonder how old Virgil is? Past two hundred?

I still can’t wrap my mind around Nero saying he is over one hundred years old. One hundred! He’s older than my grandparents were when they passed, and the Elban warrior doesn’t look a day over thirty.

Does that mean they stay as beautiful as he is right now for decades? That’s… something.

It’ll also mean I’ll age faster than him.

A dark pit forms in my stomach as I consider the implications. How can we be soulmates if time itself is against us? If my lifespan is but a fraction of Nero’s?

I push these negative thoughts away.

If we don’t defeat Magnus, there might not even be a future for us to spend together. Let’s focus on that first.

Still, the nagging feeling lingers…

We enter the study, where Virgil Lucius sits down in his majestic chair. The walls are lined with books, and the fire in the fireplace roars loudly, giving the room an orange glow.

“Sit, sit,” he says.

I take my place next to Nero on the couch across Virgil. The cushions are so soft it feels like I’m sinking into the damn thing.

“Now, who is your guest?” Virgil asks. “The Octavius are not ones to keep slaves.”

Ah, he noticed me!

“I’m Victoria Snow,” I say. “I’m… human.”

Feel so weird to have to say that!

Virgil nods. “From the way you two look at each other, I’m assuming you are not his captive, correct?”

“Is it that obvious?” Nero says, both amused and annoyed.

“It is when you reach my age,” Virgil says. “Now, Nero Octavius, my son’s affiliation with your house is the very reason he is now missing… tell me again why I should help you.”

“It’s not my fault,” Nero growls in anger. “Surely you can see that?! Bruttius attacked us, cowardly! Cut Gaius down in front of me! Magnus Bruttius is after me, and I have to find Marcius, for he is the only one who knows why.”

Virgil leans back in his seat, grabs a pipe and lights it up. He blows out a puff of smoke.

“I think I might be able to answer your questions as well, young one,” he says after a moment of silence.

“You do?!” Nero says.

“I do. First, tell me what you know.”

I fold my hands and wait as Nero explains all that’s happened. He’s been through so much… I’m surprised he’s keeping it all together as well as he is.

When he’s done, Virgil sighs and blows out another ring of smoke.

“I wish Gaius was still around,” he says. “It was his duty to tell you. I warned him that he was going easy on you, but he was an optimist. Now the duty falls to me. Prepare yourself, young one…”

* * *

Nero

I’m leaning forward in my seat, completely focused, hanging on Virgil Livius’s every word.

“Yes, Nero, what you heard is true,” he starts. “You are a child of Decimus — one of many. It was Gaius and I who rescued you from being… sacrificed.”

The hair on my arms stands up straight.

“Sacrificed?!”

The old man nods. “I’m afraid there are some parts of Elban history and culture that are kept… secret. Hidden. The masses don’t need to know how everything operates. It’s easier for everyone if they don’t. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I do not,” I answer.

“Have you never considered how Emperor Decimus managed to gather so much power? And how he grew so very, very old? Five hundred years, they say. Centuries. Even for us Elbans, that is a lot. I can tell your human companion is definitely surprised.”

“I…”

I search for a good answer, which I don’t have.

“Decimus styled himself a god,” Virgil continues. “Yes. He’d have you believe that he was sent from above to ‘unite the families’ and ‘bring order to the galaxy’. All lies. He wielded dark power, Nero. Very dark power. He seemed to be able to bend the very laws which bind us to this world, in a manner that Gaius and I have never been able to truly understand. He ruled with an iron fist — he took what he wanted by obliterating all who opposed him. He didn’t unite anything. No, he simply killed all those who stood in his way.”

Virgil stops for another puff of his pipe. Victoria and I are silent, anxiously waiting for him to continue.

“It pains me to have to tell you this, Nero, it truly does, but it is my duty now. Emperor Decimus retained his power and his youth by feeding on his offspring.”

Victoria gasps, clasping her hands in front of her mouth. I’m too stunned to move.

“You mean he ate his own children?” Victoria asks.

“I’m not privy to the exact details,” Virgil answers, “but Decimus and his children would often disappear for a while. The Emperor would return, looking young and powerful, while his children were never spoken of again. Make of that what you will.”

“Impossible,” I growl. “You’re talking magic.”

“Call it what you will,” Virgil says. “Magic is simply a word we use to describe things we don’t quite understand yet. And Decimus seemed to understand the laws of the universe quite a bit more than everyone else… until he died, that is.”

“Magnus Bruttius killed him,” I say.

“That seems to be the case. Perhaps he also knows more than we do. House Bruttius has always been close to the Emperor. Perhaps it was Magnus’s turn to be sacrificed, and he refused.”

“What does that have to do with me, with my house?!” I growl.

I don’t want the blood of some murdering tyrant flowing through my veins! I am a child of Gaius Octavius. Not one of a child-killer, of a cannibal. For a moment my vision turns a dark shade of red, a monstrous presence pulling at the edge of my consciousness, begging me to give into rage…

The moment passes. And with it, I gain knowledge.

I am a child of Decimus. And that monster inside of me is his essence.

“Gaius has always been a bit too conscionable for an Elban noble,” Virgil says. “When we connected the dots, figured out where Decimus got his power from, he was horrified. He wanted to do something, and so with my help, we raided the palace and freed a whole group of children.”

“Father Gaius raided the palace?!” I say. “He wouldn’t hurt a fly!”

“He was a different man back then,” Virgil says. “You know him as a friendly old man, but he was filled with a righteous fury back then. You were but a baby, too young to fend for yourself, and so he adopted you. There was a reaction from the Emperor of course. Raids. Murders. Sentences. In the end, Gaius and I escaped punishment, but some… some weren’t so lucky. Innocent people took the blame for our rebellion, and paid with their lives. Gaius… he was never the same.”

Virgil pauses and stares off the into the distance for a moment. Victoria squeezes my hand, but even though her presence means the world to me, it can’t hide the truth.

I am born of murder.

“You carry a presence inside of you, Nero,” Virgil says. “A presence I don’t fully understand… but if you search your heart, I think you will find it. You have a power. A gift, some might call it. Emperor Decimus survived by feeding off his children… and Magnus Bruttius’s intentions might be similar. He might want to kill you because you pose a threat to him… or because he wants to absorb your power. Perhaps he now wields the same power Decimus once did.”

Virgil folds his hands.

“I have told you all I know, Nero. Once again, I apologize. This must not be easy for you. And, I must remind you that this is all speculation on my part. I cannot peer into Magnus’s mind… but this is my educated guess.”

Not easy for me? Now that’s an understatement.

How is one man supposed to live with this kind of information? This kind of heritage?

Born just to be killed.

Saved at the cost of innocent lives.

Hunted for your blood.

It’s enough to drive a man insane — and I have a dark presence in my heart, begging me to go insane, to give him the reigns.

I can not let that happen.

“This is all… too much,” I say. “This can’t be true.”

“I’m afraid it is, son. I’m afraid it is.”

Virgil’s servant knocks on the door of the study.

“Sir? There are several House Bruttius guards at the door, inquiring about certain…” The servant pauses to give us an angry look. “…unsavory individuals who may have passed through the district.”

“They followed us?!” I growl. “I was so careful! Virgil, I didn’t mean to involve you in any of this.”

“Ah shut up, child. Do you think this is the first time I had guards at my door? It isn’t the first and it won’t be the last.”

He nods at a door through the hall. “Hide in there. I will let you know when it is safe.”

“Are you sure?” I ask.

The last thing I want is more blood spilled for me.

“I’m sure. Now get!”