The bread and circus charade
By: Alyssa Blake
Chapter One
“Sir, a rebellion is just upon the horizon. The peasants, they’re beginning to notice the empire is succumbing to the cracks in our society. We need a distraction to keep them at bay if we are to avoid a complete undertaking of the whole empire. We must try to evade a confrontation at all costs, or the blood of the plebeians will dirty our hands,” Augustus harshly whispered from the other room. I held my breath in nervously. I would be severely reprimanded if I was discovered, but I was too stealthy to get caught. Cautiously, I peered into the ornate room adorned with golden, silky curtains, and its extravagant rugs which spanned half of the room. This left the other half of the intricately tiled floor bare. My father, Romulus, was sprawled out on the woven cot, picking from the plentiful grapes laid out on the silver platter sitting atop the wooden table to the right of his side. The strings on the trunks of the potted plants inched down the bark as my father lounged on it, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples as he did whenever he was stressed. It was certainly taxing on the body when you’re the emperor of the greatest domain in the world, which is, of course, Rome.
Augustus wrung his wrists, sensing my father’s distress. Being his advisor, he knew Romulus better than he knew himself. He had to -- it was required if you were working with a man as demanding as my father. When his eyes fluttered open again, I drew back against the stone wall, fearing he would catch sight of me; and I didn’t even want to ponder what would come if that were to happen. I shuddered unconsciously, but I quickly composed myself and got back to spying.
“Leave me, Augustus. We will discuss this matter tomorrow. I need my rest to think of a solution.” he ordered, dismissing a perplexed **Augustus. I inhaled as he came my way, and planted my sweaty palms against the chilly wall. He was in such deep thought that he only caught a fleeting glimpse of me, if any, as he strolled along the corridor. My eyes scrutinized the new figure that walked into the room and took a spot beside my father. “Ah, Carmen. It’s nice to see you, darling.” he purred into her ear, but he was so indiscrete that even I could faintly hear it. I studied her frizzy brown hair, and tanned mahogany skin, then turned away in disgust. She was another one of his many mistresses, but they were just dabbling’s compared to my mother -- his empress. One woman couldn’t satisfy his hunger. No, he needed many.
“Romulus, I have a surprise for you.” she said seductively. I grimaced, and crept backward through the hallway. It doesn’t exactly take a genius to figure what that surprise was. I couldn’t bear to hear it any longer. Even though it was quite common in our empire for the men to have many wives, I still didn’t support it. I wanted true love for myself; something I had only seen on my trips to the poorest parts of the city. How ironic that the most impoverished people were rich with what was the most important. Even though they were barely getting by, the men and women loved each other very much. It seemed as if not having money just made their love that much more meaningful. Suddenly, a hand snaked across my waist, and I shrieked in surprise.
“Aurora, what are you up to?” he questioned in a teasing voice, his warm breath tickling my ear. I pushed him back playfully, immediately recognizing the voice. In the dim glow of the torches scattered along the walls I could see his brown eyes gleaming with mischief.
“Callistus, you scared me.” I gasped dramatically, holding my hand up to my chest in fake horror.
“And if you must know, I was gazing at the constellations.” I lied. No one, not even Callistus, could know my secret; it was just too dangerous. If someone were to know of my eavesdropping, the implications would be horrendous. He arched his eyebrow questioningly, and gave me a smirk.
