Chasing Destiny [SYTYCW15]

Carthage, 146BC

Akantha stood on the Byrsa hill looking down at the harbor. Proud Carthaginian ships burned in the sapphire water of the harbor while Roman troops marched ashore. Black smoke billowed up into the air and orange flames consumed the wooden triremes. The wind shifted and the smell of smoke filled her nose. Screams filled with terror drifted up from the lower city. War was never pretty and never kind to the innocents.

Roman soldiers slowly made their way through the city. They went house to house, grabbing the residents and setting the buildings aflame. "Carthago delenda est!" they yelled. Even from up here she could hear their shouts. Tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Beautiful Carthage, the shining jewel on the Mediterranean, was being destroyed. She had lived in the city for ten years and had grown to love her adopted home.

Anger welled up inside of her and she wanted to grab a sword and cut her way through the Roman troops. As much as it would satisfy the blood lust she felt, it wouldn't do any good. Rome was an unstoppable juggernaut. Carthage wouldn't be the last city Rome destroyed, but it was her favorite. Her heart ached and she wanted to scream her fury, but she remained silent.

"Goodbye beautiful, Carthage," she said, her words taken by the wind. Fires continued to flare up and the screams continued. She wished she could save them all, but she knew she couldn't. Those who did survive the onslaught would be taken as slaves, forced to work for their new Roman masters.

Akantha gathered her cloak around her against the sudden chill. As much as she wanted to mourn the destruction of Carthage, she had to make her way out of the city before the Romans captured her. Slavery wasn't something she wanted to experience.

"My lady, we must go," a voice said from behind her.

Akantha took one last look at the burning ships in the harbor and turned around. She nodded to the old woman standing there. A small group of women, young and old, along with children had gathered in the gardens and looked to Akantha for guidance. "Is everyone ready?" She would take as many women and children with her as she could. If she could get them out of the city, she would be saving them from rape and slavery.

"Yes. We are waiting for you," replied a woman holding an infant.

Akantha nodded. "May Tanit protect us and see us through." Though Akantha worshiped the Greek gods in her heart, it never hurt to adopt the religion of where she was living. The women and children echoed the prayer. Akantha looked at the small group of women and children huddled together in fear. "Let us go. Stay close and move quickly. Stay quiet. Do not look back," she told the small group. They looked at her and nodded. "Have knives ready. We will surely run into Roman soldiers."

Akantha started walking, a knife in her hand. She followed the path through the lush gardens. Her stomach twisted at the thought of those gardens put to the torch. They were a balm to the soul, the heart of Carthage, and they would soon be razed by fire. The Romans wouldn't let the city stand. It was just a matter of time until her beloved city would be completely destroyed.

The gardens were left behind and the group entered a narrow alley. Carthage, like any other city, contained a maze of narrow alleys. It was this maze that would give them a chance of getting out of the city. The air chilled in the shade created by the buildings and the women pulled cloaks tighter around them. Silence settled over the small group, the only noise came from the few infants and small children. The older children did their best to quiet the younger ones.

They moved quickly as possible, but Akantha had to slow at intersections. She didn't want to turn a corner and stumble upon Roman soldiers. Only a floor rushed blindly ahead and Akantha wasn't a fool. The maze like pattern of the alleys would allow them to take a different route if they ran across soldiers.

They made it past four intersections before she heard heavy footsteps ahead. She motioned for her little group to stop with a raised hand. "Stay here and keep quiet," she ordered and moved ahead. Her steps were slow and careful. The smallest noise could bring the attention of whomever was ahead. The alley came to an intersection and she slowly approached.

The footsteps grew louder and Akantha risked a glance around a corner. She came face to face with a Roman general. Her eyes went wide in surprise and he smirked. Of all the people to run into, it had to be him.

"Damianos," she hissed.

"Carthago delenda est," he said.

She did the only thing she could. She slapped him across the face.

He laughed as one of his soldiers grabbed her and pinned her arms to her side. The soldier's fingers dug into her arms and she winched against the pain. "I will cut off your hands for daring to strike Scipio Africanus Minor," the soldier growled.

"Why are you doing this?" she demanded, ignoring the soldier holding her.

"For the glory of Rome," he answered with a smirk. Brown eyes twinkled with merriment. He waved the soldier off and the man released her.

Akantha eyed the soldiers around him, giving the one who had held her a gray eyed glare. She turned back toward Damianos. "I am leading women and children out of the city," she said in Greek. The soldiers around them wouldn't have bothered to learn a civilized language. "Let us go. Spare the women and children from slavery. Please."

He was still and Akantha's heart sank along with her stomach. He wasn't going to let them go. She held onto hope that he still felt some positive emotions for her and would act based on them. The bastard didn't move and moments dragged by. Akantha's hope for some kindness from this man dimmed and the women and children were going to be taken as slaves. They'd be beaten, abused and worse. Akantha was no stranger to how soldiers treated captive women.

He nodded and a deep sigh of relief escaped her. "You surrender to me and I'll let them go," he demanded in Greek.

Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. He smirked and the urge to hit him washed over her. Her hand curled into a fist, but remained at her side. The soldiers around her would not tolerate her striking him a second time.

"Well?" he asked with a brow raised in inquiry and an amused smile on his face. He had never thought she could be speechless about something. He knew how scathing and vicious her tongue could be. He hadn't expected to see her here and he was going to take advantage of the situation.

"Fine," she said. She'd surrender herself if it meant that the women and children would go free and not be taken as slaves. She knew he was doing this to torment her, but she could take it if it meant women and children wouldn't suffer. A little dignity was a small price to pay.

A look of surprise crossed his face for a brief moment and Akantha was a little pleased she managed to surprise him. "They are two alleys over. Lead your men away from them and I will surrender to you."

He motioned to one of his men. "This one is mine," he said. "Take her to the rear lines and I'll deal with her later." The soldier nodded and grabbed Akantha's upper arm. "No one touches her. The rest of you, come with me. Burn everything you see."

"Thank you," Akantha said to him in Greek.

"You can thank me later," he said with a grin.

"I hate you," she said as the soldier led her away. His laughter followed her. She looked over her shoulder to see him leading his men away from where the women and children were hiding. She was thankful they would leave the city unmolested and it was worth anything he would put her through.

What she would put him through would be every bit what he deserved.