EMBERS (Marcus Acacius)

XX | The Senator's Revelation

As I followed Senator Aemillius from the grand atrium, the weight of the emperors' lingering gazes was almost impossible to behold. It was the kind of pressure that follows you into a crowded room, full of strangers; but far worse—when those strangers have the power to command life and death itself. I tried to shake the uncomfortable feeling away, but it clung to my skin like sweat on a humid summer day—impossible to ignore.

Acacius walked at my side, his broad shoulders rigid beneath his white cloak. His body betrayed his tension and I wondered if it was as obvious to everyone else as it was to me. He was clearly mulling over the emperors' words. Games in the Colosseum, to be held in his honour, the not-so-subtle threat on Lucilla, the endless cycle that he seemed powerless to break, despite his impressive status.

Aemillius' voice broke through my thoughts. "Come, General, Lady Adriana. I would like to discuss something with you both."

I lifted my gaze, just as Aemillius flashed a winning smile over his shoulder. He was still acting, but there was something in his eyes that made me feel uneasy. I had known him long enough to know that he didn't always play fair. There was something going on that I was not privy to and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

The palace halls were wide and vacant, save for the occasional servant, who bowed their heads respectfully as we passed. The palace was much quieter than I had anticipated. The cold, marble walls swallowed all sounds, as if they were designed to be oppressive and suffocating. Even though I walked alongside Acacius and Aemillius, the lack of an echo made me feel isolated, as if the building itself was trying to remind me that I was really alone.

Acacius still moved stiffly, his arm dangerously close to brushing mine, despite the wide expanse of empty hallway around us. I wanted to reach out, to say something to him, but my mind had gone blank; no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't think of anything worth saying aloud.

No one spoke until we reached the end of the hall and the senator opened an ornate wooden door, beckoning us inside.  The chamber was ostentatiously decorated, with velvet chairs and heavy wooden furniture. It was tasteless and pretentious, clearly trying to give the impression that it was regal, but falling miserably short in its execution.

Senator Aemillius motioned for us to take a seat. "Please," he said smoothly, his voice betraying no hint of the tension that seemed to float all around us. "Rest. The emperors are unpredictable in their moods, but I imagine you'll have a brief respite. At least until the games begin."

At the mention of games, an involuntary shiver ran down my spine. Acacius—to his credit—did not react. He simply nodded in acknowledgement and made his way over to one of the ceiling-high windows, pulling back the velvet drapes, to let bright sunlight stream into the room. Even from my position in the centre of the room, I could see the view outside. It was breathtaking, a sprawling sea of white and gold under the midday sun. But, I knew from experience that it was impossible to appreciate beauty when one was bound by invisible chains.

I lowered myself into a plush chair, my fingers curling around the armrests, digging my nails into the soft velvet. The silence was almost unbearable, but Aemillius broke it relatively quickly. He took a seat across from me, his back straight, fingers lightly drumming on the arm of his chair. His calm demeanour was at odds with the way my brain spun uncontrollably, with irritation simmering in my throat.

"It is good to see you again, Adriana." He eyed me plaintively, not paying any mind to the other person in the room. "A real shame, isn't it? How it all went down."

I nodded, knowing his concern was mostly polite formality. If he regretted the nature of my exile, it wasn't nearly as much as he let on. "What's done is done," I replied stiffly, forcing a reluctant smile onto my face. "I'm happy to be back."