Chapter One. #2
At night, Isca hunted those who polluted bodies of water. That allowed Disease to spread as all living things drank water. It was the life force of every creature in this world. The Sin would claim its guilty victim and be satiated for a while.
“Oh, I love it, thank you!” a woman exclaimed, and Isca froze.
She recognised that voice! Blast, Valeria had been correct; Praejecta was back.
Worse, the villa wasn’t far from Isca’s.
However, why wasn’t Praejecta at the palace?
Had she fallen out of favour with the emperor?
Nosiness was never a good idea, but Isca had it in spades.
She crept closer to the wall where she saw Praejecta lounging by a pool. A man sat opposite, wearing the crimson cloak of a legate.
Isca’s mouth dropped open. There were several legates in the city, and no doubt Praejecta had got her claws into one.
The man leant over and hauled Praejecta into his arms and kissed her soundly.
Isca cringed as it turned passionate, and it was clear they were about to make love.
She began to scurry away when he removed his helmet, and blond hair shone in the sun.
Isca’s mouth dried, her body froze, and her heart pounded as Gaius ravished Praejecta.
“What are you looking at?” a whisper sounded by her shoulder.
Isca pointed, and Valeria gasped quietly. “No! I had no idea! Oh, Isca!” she exclaimed.
“Come,” Isca murmured and began hurrying away. She’d not break down and let Gaius know she’d caught him.
“What will you do?” Valeria asked as they headed to Isca’s villa.
“Revenge is a dish best served cold,” Isca stated. She and Valeria entered her villa, and Isca broke down in tears.
◆◆◆
“The feast is delightful,” Gaius praised happily.
“Yes. I hear you visited the emperor today,” Isca replied distantly.
“He is very happy with the results I’ve achieved. He rewarded me,” Gaius said with a smile.
“How wonderful. Did Praejecta enjoy your cock?”
Gaius spat wine everywhere and stared.
“That was your reward? To bed his niece?” Isca demanded.
“Isca, what are you talking—”
“Gaius, you were seen by me and one other. You betrayed me with the emperor’s whore,” Isca snarled, letting her hurt surface.
Gaius blanched. “He desires me to wed her,” he said, and Isca leapt up, knocking her wine over.
“What?”
“Justinian wants me to wed Praejecta.”
“Did you tell him you were courting me?” Isca hissed.
“He’s the emperor!” Gaius exclaimed.
“So you marry her, and then what?”
“I love you, Isca. It doesn’t have to be the end of us,” Gaius suggested with a charming smile.
Fury rose in Isca. Was she really hearing this? Disgust rolled through her. This was the fool she’d been hoping to share her life with.
“You’re asking me to be your mistress?” she hissed, and Gaius smiled again.
“Darling, I love you. I need you by my side,” Gaius murmured as he got to his feet. He grasped Isca’s stiff body and held her close. Gaius slowly bent to kiss her, and Isca turned her head away and tore free.
“You can’t have us both. Wed her, and you lose me and my money,” Isca spat.
Gaius growled. “Isca, I can’t refuse the emperor.”
“Yes, you can. He’s fair and just; I’ve met him. If he knew about me, he wouldn’t force you to marry Praejecta. Justinian wants her to wed because of the scandals Praejecta causes. You’ll be her cuckold!” Isca hissed. A tear trickled down Isca’s cheek as she gazed at Gaius with decreasing hope.
He didn’t love her; Gaius wanted Isca for her money.
She wrapped her arms around her body as she choked back sobs. All she’d ever been was a fortune to him. Isca was seeing the real Gaius, and it was destroying her dream. Well, so be it.
“Go,” she ordered as she felt the Sin raise its head. It sensed Isca’s pain and weakness and prodded at her. Isca shoved it down and lifted her chin.
Gaius watched her carefully, seeking to understand if she meant her words.
“I said, leave. Go to your whore.” With those harsh words, Isca fled.
◆◆◆
“You shouldn’t be here,” Valeria whispered as we stood in a corner.
“I need to witness this,” Isca replied.
Deep inside her, anger grew, feeding her Sin and her hate. The rumours had filtered through the city of Gaius and Praejecta’s betrothal. Isca was watching Praejecta as she preened on the emperor’s dais. Justinian lounged on his throne, paying no attention to her or anything else.
Finally, Gaius arrived and headed to clasp his fist to his chest before Justinian. The emperor peered up and smiled.
“At last, my friend,” he boomed, and everyone quieted down. “Friends and countrymen, I wish to announce a blessing indeed. My niece Praejecta and my legate Gaius will be wed in quattuordecim dies[3].”
Praejecta’s gaze swept the floor and found Isca. She seemed triumphant as others turned to look at her, pity in their eyes. Isca stood tall; nobody would know how this was breaking her inside. She’d sought love and lost it to a cheap whore who couldn’t keep her legs shut.
A strong hand wrapped around her waist, and Isca stiffened. Who dared touch her so familiarly? Ready to tear someone to shreds, she gazed into the golden eyes of Leonidas. He smiled down at her as whispers broke out.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered as Leonidas dropped his head to hers.
“Proving nobody fucks with my sister, although these mortals won’t know that,” Leonidas replied.
A smile crossed Isca’s lips as she guessed her brother was about to cause mayhem. Leonidas tucked her arm into his and began making his way to the dais.
“That’s Leonidas Midas,” a man whispered, and before they even reached the emperor, everyone knew he was in the room.
“Pius Felix Augustus[4],” Leonidas said.
“Leonidas Midas! Fair greeting, what brings you to my court?” Justinian asked, sitting up.
“I heard rumour of a lovely and fair maiden. I came to discover the truth and found her,” Leonidas announced.
“Isca?” Justinian said, looking shocked.
“Are you saying you don’t think she’s one of the most beautiful women alive?” Leonidas challenged.
Out of the corner of Isca’s eye, she saw Gaius straighten and stare at them. Praejecta was also gaping in astonishment.
“Of course, Isca is favoured at my court for her beauty, intelligence, and wit,” Justinian scrambled.
Isca barely hid a smile. Nobody wished to upset the incredibly wealthy and famous hero, Leonidas. Leonidas was known for his exploits in battle, which earned him his heroic status, and for his ability to make money. In fact, it was rumoured he was wealthier than the emperor.
“Yes, a man who throws away a pearl as valuable as Isca for a mere tarnished piece of silver is an imbecile,” Leonidas said, staring straight at Gaius. Beside him, Praejecta bristled. She recognised the insult.
“Indeed. Who’d cast aside a woman like Isca? Only a fool,” Justinian agreed, and whispers surged through the room. Justinian had just unknowingly insulted his legate, and Gaius seemed furious.
“Maybe Isca isn’t such a valuable pearl but rather a deceptive version of one,” Praejecta said. Gasps abounded at the blatant insult, and Justinian looked unamused.
“Perhaps a woman with such scandalous relationships as yours should know her place and keep her mouth shut. Everyone here recognises who and what you are.” Leonidas slapped back immediately.
Anger built in Isca as she stared at Praejecta’s face. Isca was more beautiful, there was no doubt, but Praejecta was pretty.
“How dare you!” Justinian bellowed at Praejecta.
Leonidas smiled. The emperor wouldn’t want to upset him; he could bankrupt the empire.
“It is fine, Justinian. There’s something you’re unaware of.
Your spineless legate here was courting Isca and threw her aside for Praejecta.
Gaius here believes that marrying her will give him recognition and promotion.
However, I see a preening coward who would rather have status than love.
As I claimed, a greedy fool. Gaius’s loss is my gain.
If you will excuse me, I shall be taking Isca away with me.
And her fortune,” Leonidas declared, holding Gaius’s eyes.
“What?” Praejecta exclaimed.
“Worm, I don’t ask a woman to be my mistress while I marry another, just so I can keep access to her wealth,” Leonidas hissed. Isca wondered how he knew that, but didn’t bother to ask. “Instead, I make her my queen.”
With that, Leonidas tilted his head at the emperor and began to walk away.
Praejecta rushed forward and grabbed Isca’s arm. “You’ll pay for this,” she murmured.
“You’ll not see your wedding night. He’ll be dead and rotting, and you’ll be left unwed and with child.
A scandal indeed!” Isca whispered in return.
She couldn’t hold back, and Disease escaped a little and lashed out.
Those in its immediate vicinity reeled backwards as Disease struck deep.
Leonidas rushed her out before it could infect everyone. But too late. The damage had been done.
Seven days later, Gaius died. Justinian caught the plague but recovered, and his niece ended up married to a brute who took Gaius’s place. Jess managed to get Valeria out and saved her life. But it counted for little. The plague Jess had released was the first of the Great Three.
◆◆◆
Jess sat up as sweat dripped from her. What on earth had that been about? She’d not dreamed of Ancient Rome for centuries and certainly not Gaius. She shuddered as cool air rushed in and pulled her duvet up closer. Had that been a warning? A premonition?
She got out of bed, headed to her balcony window, and stared out into the night. Gaius was the first to break her heart, though others followed. Jess was in no position to let anyone in again. Three times Disease had broken free and caused a worldwide epidemic.
Jess wouldn’t allow it loose again. The world couldn’t afford it.