My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Stay Behind

Jason is in the foyer of a palace.

There are guards stationed at the large gilded doors to the interior. It takes him no time at all the recognize them as Roman. Judging from the style of their armor, Jason's best guess would be somewhere between 160-180 CE.

So, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Lucius, or Commodus.

The sound of frenzied footsteps echoes from what seems to be the gardens, heading Jason's way. Whoever is arguing out there is on their way inside the palace in a hurry. He steps towards the doors as they round the corner: a pale woman with auburn hair in a white cotton dress and, unmistakably, the god Apollo.

"Lord Apollo, you blessed me with this gift for a reason-"

"Yes! To take some responsibility off my back. You are hardly doing that by nagging me now, Herophile."

"My Lord, please," The woman insists, sounding tired and frustrated. She reaches out and snags the god's hand, and Jason half expects Apollo to blast her to smithereens for daring touch him. Surprisingly, he just groans and turns back to glare at her tiredly. She pleads with her eyes. "I am telling you that if you allow Emperor Lucius to invoke Tiberii donum, countless lives will be lost. They must be-"

The woman grimaces in pain and grabs her head. She seems to be struggling to get words out anymore. When they do come, they erupt from her like painful sounding hiccups.

"Verb. Nine letters. Starts with D."

Destroyed. The Tiberii donum.

All of Jason's focus zeroes in on their conversation.

Apollo just sighs and rolls his eyes. "I am not going to destroy their Gifts. What does it matter, anyway?"

"You will bring Venus' wrath upon Rome if you do not do something now!" Herophile exclaims.

"Cordolia are just monsters, my priestess," tuts Apollo. "And, they make wonderful companions once properly leashed. You do remember Tiberius' hydra, don't you? He taught it all sorts of tricks! It was the life of the party!"

The woman bristles.

So does Jason. Juliette's face. Her scent. Her smile. All of it starts fueling his anger as he listens to the god - Jason's own brother - dismiss her kind. He feels a wave of affection for this priestess of Apollo as she stamps her foot and glares at her patron.

"You are not listening to me!" She snaps in frustration.

Apollo sighs and shakes his head at her. "Sweet Herophile, you are still young as an Oracle. Trust me when I say not all predictions mean what you believe them to. Now," He takes the woman by the shoulders and starts walking her inside the palace, beaming. "The coronation ceremony is beginning. Afterwards, they will bring out the Gift and Lucius' chosen cordolium, and you will see that you were mistaken. Until then, enjoy the refreshments!"

Apollo bursts open the doors, and the two of them step inside the main chamber of the palace. Jason hurries inside with them.

If he had form, he'd have knocked right into the god's back. Instead, he ends up phasing through Apollo where he's stopped suddenly to stare up at the dais where the new emperor is being crowned. Jason follows his gaze, and what awaits his attention makes him feel physically sickened.

A smirking, brown haired man with a ferret-like face is swearing an oath with a hand on an alter to Jupiter. At his feet, where the base of his purple cape brushes the steps, is a little girl.