Book 4: Love in the Caribbean

Chapter 7: Hemophobia

Warning for anyone suffering from PTSD: Graphic Depictions of Death and Blood!

One week later, midnight in Rome, Lunaria was out for a nightly stroll in the heart of the ancient city of Rome admiring the architecture and topography of the land and the buildings around her. She walked beneath the massive aqueducts towards the cities mega arena the Coliseum.

She never understood why the humans built the massive structure and she never understood the purpose behind it. Mostly because, she never had the chance to see what went on behind those massive walls, for the Romans did most of their events during the day with a few night events on certain occasions. Tonight however she noticed there were torches and fires lite along the tops of the arena.

She heard shouting and cheering from the citizens inside and swords clanging and rowdy yells from men, and even though her gut told her to leave the arena alone, her curiosity got the better of her. Lunaria vanished and reappeared in one of the doorway entrances to where the audience all sat. She looked down at the arena and saw a large group of people all huddled together in the middle of the arena.

The people were ranging in ages from the elderly, to experienced adults, young parents, to teenagers and even a few young children. One adorable blond haired girl that caught Lunaria's eyes was only five-years-old. She was clinging to the dress of her mother, who had black long hair. Lunaria watched as the mother in turn was wrapped up in the arms of her husband who shared his daughters same blond hair.

Lunaria smiled as she gazed down at the family. The blond haired husband reminded her of Solaris handsome and strong. The black haired wife was her, beautiful and loving. While the little girl...well Lunaria hoped that someday, she and Solaris would have a child like that adorable little blond haired girl, but not yet anyway.

With that thought in mind Lunaria's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion when she heard the chanting cries from the audience in the stands. She was not sure why the crowd was cheering and yelling at these people as they were, or why these people were in the arena at all. She didn't understand what was going to happen; that was until she saw the Caesar of Rome rising up from his golden throne to stand.

She watched as the people down in the arena all cling to one another as their faces paled in terror. Lunaria saw the blonde haired husband hugging his wife with tears falling from his eyes as he kissed her lips in a way Lunaria knew meant it would be for the last time as they both hugged their now crying terrified daughter.

Lunaria felt her stomach tighten as she gripped at the fabric of her dress over her stomach. Her blood ran cold, something wasn't right. Her silver eyes darted back to the Caesar just in time to see his lips form into a murderous grin as he gave them all a slow thumbs-down before moving the thumb inward toward the throat to signify death while proclaiming in a loud echoing yell.

"RELEASE THE LIONS!"

Lunaria's eyes widened as her head instantly shifted back towards the terrified people then towards the Caesar succeeding in giving her neck a bad case of whiplash in her horror as her eyes widened and the breath caught within her throat. She knew what this spectacle was now...it was a bloody massacre!

She gazed at the people and then screamed in agony as she watched the trap doors opening within the arena's floor, releasing all of the bloodthirsty lions into the area of death!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

She then watched with her hand over her mouth, her feet frozen to the stone floor, unable to move, and the tears started falling from her eyes as the terrified crowd all screamed and tried to flee from the lions.