Domain of Power-The Dreamer (Book 3)

Chapter 15: When Sparks Fly

His name was Gaius Severus. The one person Apollus mentioned whenever I asked about the investigation. Finally, I could put a name to the face, even though he still felt like a stranger. But he was no stranger to our family. He emphasized he knew us very well.

Those narrow gray eyes both intrigued and frightened me. It was this very trait that inspired a manhunt. Gray eyes now meant you were a suspect. But the man standing before me was telling me the actual suspect was detained in the House of Detention, awaiting a trial date. Apparently, he was not the only man with gray eyes.

I had a hundred questions swirling in my head, but I settled for a 'thank you.' I would thank Apollus, too, if he were not busy strumming his harp. Not that I wanted to inflate his already big head.

Gaius turned towards me and uttered, "I should be thanking you." He turned to Romeus and Julius, who had already turned to leave. "I will let you all get back to the festivities."

By the time I looked up at the dancers, Priscilla was gone.

I crunched into the sliced almonds baked into my honey cake. I missed my chance.

***

The rest of the night was a blur as the music and drinking lingered into the night. I found myself the next morning in a strange new bed, surrounded by a room with no windows.

I looked around, trying to get my bearings in this unfamiliar setting. Instead of Cornelia coming to greet me with a warm smile, a male slave—the same one that conducted the tour earlier of the Palace—arrived.

"Rise and shine, my Excellency. Anias will be coming here shortly to begin your lessons."

I rubbed my eyes. "Where am I?"

He almost laughed. "You are in the Imperial Palace."

I must have been so tired and filled with wine that it was a miracle I made it to my bed without crashing to the floor. A panicked breath escaped me. "Where are the rest of my family?"

"Most are residing here except your brother, Barbarius. He left early."

No surprise Barbarius left early. He likely returned to the villa. The barrage of questions and whispers from last night must have sent him into hiding again.

"I can fetch you a change of clothes," he offered, snapping me from my thoughts.

I glanced at the toga I still wore from last night. My time to get ready and eat a meal was reduced. Changing clothes could wait. I rushed to the dining hall for the morning meal, which consisted of recooked leftovers from yesterday's banquet. Then it was off to my lessons. After hours of listening to Anias before reciting lines of Greek poems and plays, I was eager to satisfy my growling belly. I thanked Anias for his visit and scurried to the dining hall to eat my noon meal of mutton, bread, cheese, and figs. After lunch, I was planning to write a letter thanking Priscilla for coming to the Ceremony. I planned to invite her to the Imperial Palace, which would be a shorter trip for her, considering Apathia was in the middle of the island, and she was coming from Cyrene, which was in the far east of the island. But as I got up from the table, I saw Cornelius waiting for me outside the triclinium's curtains.

"Get ready. We will be heading to the bathhouse's gymnasium to continue your physical training."

We had indoor pools at the Palace and heated floors to keep your feet warm as you walked along the tiles. If I wanted to, I could resume my training in the courtyard and never leave here.

"What do they have at the Baths that I cannot find here?" I asked.

"A full gymnasium with exercise equipment. A library. Food stalls. Haircutting and grooming parlors. Communal spaces for men of all stations to converse and exercise with," Cornelius said, crossing his arms. "You always wanted to explore beyond these four walls. This is your opportunity."