Blood and Politics: Rome's Deadly Stage

The blood flows down the stairs of the stage, and even the breeze that blows in my face from beneath the arena is tainted by the smell. The senators remain on stage, even after most of the Imperial party leaves. The senators continue their silence as they circle the body lying on the floor. The purple stripe of the magistrate ’s cloak, an honor to Roman officials, is now a color so darkened by blood that it’s turned black.
Constantine and Galerius remain in the arena, as some soldiers come to remove the body. I watch Constantine say something to Galerius, but Galerius refuses any attempt of sympathy. He tries to push Constantine away, but Constantine backs away. Constantine walks up to Galerius and offers a hand, but Galerius rejects him and walks off the stage. Maxentius shows up from out of nowhere and joins Galerius in leaving. Constantine stands there for a moment, but

then he disappears as the soldiers lift the Magistrate ’s body off the stage.
I let go of the grated bars and slide off the window’s ledge.

I land a bit shaky, and I fight to keep standing. Turning the corner, I freeze at the sight before me. The entire Imperial Party stands right in front of me in the tunnel. The Imperial Guard draw their swords and prepare to kill me. My hand slides to grab the hilt of my sword, but I remember its still back in the Den’s armory. I find my dagger instead, and pull it out. The Imperial Guard start walking towards me when a man comes running in-between them and grabs me. Father.
The Imperial Guard lower their swords, and turn for orders, not knowing exactly who they are supposed to take orders from with both emperors, and heirs being in the same room. Father lets go of me long enough to turn and face the Imperial party.
He turns, and smiles at me before he addresses the party. “I have not seen this priestess since the day she left my household to serve the goddess, Minerva,” he says. “The gods have surely smiled on me to reunite us on this glorious day.” He guides me to the newly appointed heir Severus and addresses him

specifically.
“Father, allow me to reintroduce Shalli to you,” Father says. “Has she not grown up well?”
Severus, my grandfather, looks at me from head to foot, and I suddenly realize I am still dressed as a priestess of Minerva. I slip the dagger back up my sleeve and bow to the man the way Shalli had done many times before to the head of her order.
Severus nods and the party turns to continue down the hallway, uninterested in a priestess. One of the Guard remains in the hallway, but otherwise we are alone. Father smiles at me, and I fight the urge to embrace him again, in fear the soldier would realize I am not just an old servant.
Father pulls me close, and asks, “What are you doing here child?” His face is stern, and I realize he is speaking in Hebrew, a language he insisted we learned. I look at the soldier, but he doesn’t seem to know Hebrew, nor does he care to hear our discussion.
“I needed to see you,” I say, the heat rushing to my face from how childish that just sounded.
Father hugs me again, and whispers in my ear, “I should’ve told you children everything.”
I feel a sudden tug, and look up to see the soldier grabbing Father’s arm. I prepare to fight him, but Father steps in my way, urging me to back down.
“It was nice seeing you again priestess, give my love to your mother.” It’s all he can say before the soldier drags him down the hallway. I never got the chance to tell him about mother, about the soldier, about anything.
I make my way out of the tunnels, and down a street leading back to the temple. I feel someone’s eyes watching me, and I pick up the pace. Quickly turning a corner, I hold my foot out catching whoever is tailing me. A tangle of dust and cloak reveal a familiar mess of blond hair.
Hanau. He stands up, brushing off his clothes. “You caught me, Ari, “ he says. My name rolling off his tongue sounds so familiar that I almost forget. I long for his smile, his laugh, anything to have him like me once again. “ I thought it was you. Even under that robe I can spot a messenger,” he says.
“I always do,” I say, barely above a whisper, not wishing to break moment with him.
“So…” He says, pausing to continue, “see the stuff in the arena?”
I nod my head, as Tola slides up beside us.
“Well, at least she didn’t do something senseless this time,” Tola says. “I’m not sure Ari will ever really follow orders, but I guess for once I’ll let it slide. Besides, when does someone get the chance to see their grandfather become heir apparent to an Empire, all the while learning he was the man who destroyed your family?”
I had already pushed all that past me, as the image of my father introducing me to my grandfather seems to have me completely distracted. I don’t tell them about meeting Father, but keep quiet. Seeing Father had definitely been reckless. Hanau gazes at me, and I have to look away before he realizes I’m hiding something. Tola stares at me as well, but I just stare straight at the ground, wishing for something to draw their attention away from me.
Tola gives both of us a nod and then starts walking down the street. He gives some excuse about heading back to the Den to turn in some report. Hanau hits my shoulder as he goes to catch up with Tola, and turns to give me a look of being fed up with me. I stay a few steps behind them, staying out of the way. I listen for a while as both of them talk, but it’s nothing more than small talk, weather, the execution, but then they go onto the subject of Constantine. I try to join in, but they don’t even slow down enough to let me catch up.
They seem to ignore my attempts to join the conversation entirely. Hanau has changed, not to anyone else, but just the way he looks at me, the way he talks to me, and the way he feels about me. I see it in the way he acts around me, even the way he says my name now. I swallow the heat rising up inside me, and just follow along.
We keep going towards the Den until Hanau takes a step towards the Temple. Shalli stands there at the side gate near the library, a look of worry on her face until she sees me, and then it turns into something between annoyance and concern. The soldiers are busy helping a merchant with an errant camel to be much trouble, and we enter the side gate through the bars. I betrayed her trust in leaving the temple and risking my place with the Fravashi. I keep behind the others, hoping that in some way it will keep them from noticing me. I stay out in the garden, and no one seems to object as they go into the library.