New Rome

63. Agrippa's Fate

Graesen was sat by the pool, idly watching two young boys playing in the water. His secretary, Pallas, scuttled into the baths – looking out of place in his stiff suit. Pallas pushed his steaming glasses up his narrow nose and crouched respectfully at the Imperator's side.

"Well?" Graesen drawled, his gaze remaining on the children.

"We've intercepted a message that was intended for your grandson, Imperator."

Graesen swivelled his attention to his secretary.

"Show me." Graesen took the report in his clammy grasp. He'd been having his grandson, and potential heir, closely watched. Graesen's lips shrank away as he sucked on his teeth. This was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Agrippa has journeyed to the Rurals and is currently staying with Julia. He claims to detox-"

"Detox," Graesen snorted. "The young viper plans to recruit his sister in a plan to have me removed." Graesen's face was splotching with anger. "Raid Agrippa's complex. I want it stripped bare and searched."

"Yes sir." Pallas scurried off to follow out the order. The boys in the pool stopped splashing around, sensing trouble.  

Graesen clutched grimly onto the intercepted message. Agrippa had been given a code name, S.P.   

S. P.

Silent Prince, perhaps? Graesen's insides churned uneasily. He hadn't forgotten what the Silent Prince had done to Guy. Was it possible that the lantern's serial killer was his own grandson? 

Had he been nurturing a cuckoo in the nest? 

**

"Stand aside at once!" Julia roared, as an armed unit broke into her complex and swarmed the place. They surrounded Agrippa, with their guns aimed at his head. "Do you not know who we are? We are the Imperator's grandchildren!" She told them proudly, but her heart was pounding.

"Hands behind your head!" One soldier roared at Agrippa. When Agrippa didn't obey, the man smacked Agrippa in the face with the but off his rifle.

Julia screamed, watching blood trail down her younger brother's face.

"The Imperator will punish you for this!" She shrieked. "He'll kill you!"

"The Imperator had ordered your brothers arrest."

The blood drained from Julia's face.

"That... that can't be true..."

The soldiers handcuffed Agrippa and dragged him toward the door.

"Julia!" He wailed. "Help me!"

Julia's eyes were wide with panic.

"Let him go!" She screamed. She lunged for her brother but a soldier grabbed her and held her back, stopping her from reaching him. "No!" She stared at Agrippa's scared face and the need to get to him intensified. "AGRIPPA!" She cried out. "Don't take him!"

Tears streamed down Julia's face as her youngest brother was dragged out of sight. "Where are you taking him?!" She asked, desperately – but the soldiers refused to answer. They left, after sealing her in the complex and leaving a soldier to guard her. Julia slumped to the floor and sobbed.

                         Reporters flocked to the Castle of Red. Everyone wanted to hear from the Imperator.

'Was it true that Prince Agrippa was being held in custody?'

'What crimes was the Prince suspected off?'

'Was it true that objects connected with several murders had been found in his complex?'

Livia found her husband in one of their artificial gardens.

"Can it be true?" She questioned, appalled. "Do you really suspect Agrippa of being the Silent Prince?"

Graesen wouldn't look her in the eye. He nodded slowly. Livia put a hand to her mouth. "But-" Her voice trailed away and the old lady had to sit down.

"I should have warned you of his arrest." Graesen spoke softly. "And spared you from the sudden shock." He sat beside his wife and tenderly stroked her back. Livia took a few minutes to compose herself.

"Guy was murdered in such a ghastly way... was it really his brother's hand that delivered the blow?" She questioned at last.

"Kai gathered the evidence. Though it pained him to do it. But the truth could not be in doubt once the scent was caught."

"I have always thought Agrippa undeserving." Livia murmured. "That he was a bully, with weak principles but this-" She'd never suspected him capable of murder. "What will you do?" Livia asked her husband. If Agrippa was tried and found guilty of being a serial killer, he would be put to death. "He is your grandson."

"And Guy was also my grandson. Do I allow his killer to go free?"

Livia held her tongue and studied Graesen's face,  reading his torn expression. Finally, he shook his head. "If I spare Agrippa, he may one day take the throne of New Rome. Can I risk that?"

"Consider the issue carefully." Livia advised. "He can be kept safely in the Deep Prison. From there, he'll be in no position to take power from anyone."

Graesen's gaze was hard. Could Agrippa be buried in the Deep Prison? Maybe that low, the boy would be buried alive.

**

Jay and Wylo stood together, side by side, in the Lantern's temple of Vesta.

"Congratulations on your baby daughter." Jay murmured softly. "How is she?"

"Loud." Wylo replied, but she smiled.

Together, the pair approached the alter and lit a candle for Guy. They bowed their heads.

"Your killer has finally been caught, Guy." Wylo whispered softly. "You can rest in peace."

"Move on to a better place, my friend."

Jay and Wylo stood shoulder to shoulder, watching smoke rise into the air.

With the arrest of Agrippa, justice had finally been done.

...

                   Ellie watched the news and struggled not to smile. The Imperator had gobbled up every seed that had been left out for him. And now Agrippa, the rival grandson, would spend the rest of his life rotting in a prison cell.

The Silent Prince had won.