EMBERS (Marcus Acacius)

XXIX | Under the Rose

The orange glow of the torches on the wall barely shed any light into the dark stone hallway. Water dripped from above, but all I could focus on was the silhouette of Senator Aemillius, who walked ahead. Neither of us spoke, but we didn't really have anything relevant to say to each other. Aemillius had insisted I accompany him to this secret meeting and I—in my submission—had agreed.

Long, wavering shadows danced across the ground, only amplifying my unease. I had sat beside the senator in his garish litter, unable to internalise which roads we travelled along to get to our current destination. Only Aemillius knew, but he never elected to enlighten me.

"Stay silent and listen, Adriana." He spoke quietly, but his voice still bounced conspicuously off of the stone passageway. "You'll learn more that way."

I nodded concordantly, the sound of muffled voices suddenly materialising in my earshot. The end of the corridor was in sight, marked by a large, yawning opening, that was bathed in torch light.

Aemillius stepped into the grand meeting room, nodding to the inhabitants. His greetings were courteous, yet withheld, as he kissed the hand of the woman at the head of the council table. Lucilla smiled in response, murmuring quietly with the old senator, as the other people in the room waited silently from their respective positions around the table.

"Adriana!"

My heart jumped into my throat as a hand wrapped around my upper arm, pulling me back into the shadows. I kept my mouth shut as I cautiously turned around, immediate relief washing over me as I recognised the warm brown eyes of Acacius. "What was that—"

"You shouldn't be here," Acacius hissed, leaning over to scan the meeting room briefly. When he turned back to me, his brows were furrowed, undisguised concern written all over his tired face. "It's not safe to be a part of this."

I rolled my eyes, yanking my arm from his tightening grip. He blinked dumbly, as if he hadn't even noticed the way his anger and concern were manifesting in his physicality. "You think I don't know that?" I whispered back, rubbing my arm harshly. He glanced down, his face instantly contorting in guilt. "Aemillius ordered me to come."

"You've risked enough already." Acacius' tone was pleading as he ran a hand through his hair, clearly distressed. "This rebellion... it's dangerous, Adriana. I won't let it take you from me."

I couldn't help the small smile that spread onto my shadowed face. He was so sincere, so determined. A small part of me wanted to completely give in to him—to let him take control—and allow myself to put my life in his hands. He was so adamant that we could make it work and I wanted to believe him. But, deep down, I knew that—unless we could maintain complete and utter secrecy—it would never last.

"What are you thinking about?" Acacius murmured, reaching up to place a hand on my cheek. His feather-light touch sent shivers throughout my entire body. I could feel every calloused pad of his fingers, as they ran—so teasingly slow—over my skin. It was so intoxicating that I couldn't even think enough to respond. "Adriana?"

"Hmm?" I snapped my eyes up to meet his, which were brimming with a rare humour, that I only had the fortune of witnessing on scarce occasions. I blinked, snapping out of my reverie. "Nothing... I just—"

Acacius seemed to have a habit of interrupting me like this. His lips suddenly pressed against my own and I immediately kissed him back. Something about the hum of voices in the next room, mixed with the heat from Acacius' closeness, felt exhilaratingly incongruous. The incessant paranoia gnawed at my gut and I couldn't quite bring myself to stifle it down.

"I believe we are the last to arrive."

I froze, my eyes snapping open and immediately locking with Acacius'. He looked just as surprised as I felt, but he was clearly able to regain his composure quicker than me, for he pulled away and gently pushed me deeper into the shadows, behind a marble pillar.