Meant

The whispers continued as Priscilla strolled into her own home, the servants and slaves were becoming bolder in her presence, and the gossip was

getting even more outrageous as she grew into adulthood. For her father's sake she would have to end her relationship with Liberus. Liberus would
have to understand that she could not continue to befriend him. It had been fine to play together as children. But the closer they became the more

people were beginning to talk. Her father's reputation with the other senators could be at stake. She adored her father, as she was beginning to

adore Liberus. And if she did not end their budding relationship now she could damage her dear father's reputation. Wistfully she looked around

the atrium that she and Liberus used to play when he got a moment away from his work. The sun was shining prettily down through the roof, the

pool below reflecting the rays throughout the room. In the entrance of the room was a bust of her father. She suppressed a small giggle

remembering when she and Liberus almost knocked the thing over playing tag when they were smaller. Toward the back of the room sat a couch

that symbolized the sanctity of marriage. She had hoped one day to be placed there by her future husband on her wedding day.
But the only man she would have cared to marry was forbidden to her. Moving from the atrium into the gardens she began picking flowers to place

on the dining table at dinner. As her lady servant and she parted, Pricilla looked up and saw Liberus hard at work. She stopped there for a moment

to admire his bronzed, toned physic. As he lifted a particularly heaven pot from the ground, the muscles in his back and arms tensed. The sweat

slowly sliding downs his smooth skin. She loved to watch him when he did not know it. She wanted to come up to him and wipe the sweat from his

brow and to kiss his salty skin. Her imagination continued to more lustful thoughts, so she did not realize that Liberus had noticed her and was

walking up to her. His green eyes sparked and his lips were twisted in a saucy grin as he come up and took her hands in his. Pricilla looked up in

embarrassment, hoping that Liberus could not read those thoughts. She looked up into his eyes; she had always wondering where he got that lovely

shade of green and how much she could loss herself in their depths. Then she remembered what she had to do; she was in love with him. She
had to keep him from seeing it in her own eyes. And before it was too late it had to end, even though her heart cried out not to. Being afraid to

lose her nerve Pricilla released Liberus' hands. She put on her best lady of the house demeanor and turned away.

*~*

Liberus hummed happily as he went about his duties at the Villa Benedictus, unawares of the scandal brewing around him. He was in love. And the

object of his affection was strolling into the atrium. For a moment she stopped, looking around the room. He saw her hide a small laugh,
knowing what memory brought it to her face. He went back about his work as she walked into the garden and started to pick some flowers.

He had fallen in love with Pricilla the first time he saw her. He had been very young when his mother and father had abandoned him on the streets

of Pompeii. It had been his fortune to be found by Senator Benedict and taken into his home. Felix was a kind man, but unfortunately was an
ambitious one. To acquire another slave was a status symbol, a beautiful boy slave above all else. Liberus felt that if Felix had not his political

ambitions that he would have taken him as his child. Since that time he treated Liberus as a son more then a slave. Even as a child Liberus heard

that some masters bedded their male slaves. He had been relieved that Felix preferred his men older and more of his own status. Pricilla was an

only child, and Felix allowed Liberus to spend his free moments entertaining his daughter. As the years past, little did Felix realize that Liberus

had other "entertainment" in mind at times. But because of the master's kindness and his love of the man's daughter (and the fact he could have

been killed, or sold) that he suppressed those urges.

Liberus sneaked a peak at Pricilla as she plucked up a bloom and sniffed it. She looked up and watched him go about his work. He could see her

eyes move over his body, then glaze over in repressed passion. He hoped she could not see how excited she was making him. When he was sure
that his body would not betray him, he put down the pot he was moving and sauntered over her to. He took Pricilla's hands in his and grinned

wickedly. Suddenly her eyes went cold and she took her hands from his.

*~*

"You forget your place Liberus. It would be quite embarrassing if one of the other servants were to see you being so familiar!", Priscilla wiped her

hand down the length of the fabric of her gown. She tried to hide the trembling of her hands by knotting them in her skirts. Liberus' was looking

as if she had slapped him in the face.

"What is this my love? Why have you become so cold so suddenly?" Liberus' face screwed up in
confusion; "I saw that look in your eyes as you watched me, what has happened that you treat me so
cruelly?" He took hold of her shoulders and squeezed.

Pricilla tried to keep her composure as she saw Liberus go from hurt and confused, to angry. "We are children no longer. As adults we can no

longer be so familiar to each other. And as my father's slave you are beneath me. I can not ruin my father reputation or mine!" She turned away

from him to hide the tears that threatened to spill from her stormy gray eyes.

Liberus knew that something was not right. He knew that she loved him as much as he did her. Why this sudden change? They had grown up

together, defended each other, laughed and cried together. She told him once that being a slave did not make him any less a man to her. He was

determined to get the truth out of her. Coming up behind her he put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. Putting his lips to

her ears he whispered to her,
"We've been through so much together. Remember when I held you in my arms as you cried out your grief for your mother? We held each other for

hours that night. I never tried to take advantage, even when you begged me to make love to you. I knew then that I was not good enough
for you. That you would one day be married and leave this place, and me behind!" Liberus tasted her tears as they fell. Were they really hers? Or

were they his?

Pricilla fell her loves tears fall against her face, and held back a sob. She did not want to hurt him. She had thought to make him hate her. To

think that all she cared about was her reputation and wealth. That she had toyed with him for her own perverse enjoyment.

"Liberus my love, please," Priscilla turned in his arms and rested her palms again his cheeks to wipe away the tears.
"I didn't mean it; your place means nothing to me. It's my father I'm worried about. There has been talk in the city that we are already lovers.

You know that my father's reputation would be ruined if these rumors spread to his colleagues. As much as I love you, I have to let you go for his
sake. He has been so lonely since mother died and his career is the only thing that keeps him going,"
she pulled away and put some distance between them, "I don't want to lose my father to grief."

Liberus understood what she was getting at. He realized that he could not hold on to her. It was not meant to be. If he wanted her to be

happy, and if this is what she wanted then he would do as she asked. "As you wish. We will not see each other any longer. But that does not mean

that I will ever stopping loving you." He looked toward the window where she stood tears streaming down her face. Coming up to her he put her

face into his hands and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips.
"All I ask is that you let me hold you once more in my arms."

Pricilla gave a small nod and stepped into his arms. Without a thought she gave him one last kiss. Their lips met and clung to each other. If the

world were to end this very moment they would never have known it. Their mingled tears flavoring their kiss with their goodbyes.

*~*

Felix was enjoying the break from Senate in the villa he had built when he married his dear departed Fabia. It would not be long before he would have to leave for Rome and away from his lovely daughter Priscilla. He could hear his daughter humming a tune while picked flowers in the
garden and smiling he made his way to greet her in the garden. As he made his way he could hear hushed voices coming from the dining room. Trying not to be seen, Felix hid around the corner and listened intently.

"Liberus thinks too much of himself! Cavorting with the master's daughter behind his back. And after he treats him like a son!", a man's voice whispered harshly.
"Shah, Marius! Should the master hear you speak of this!", the ladies servant replied.
"You know what every one has been saying, that they have been seen many times in each other's embrace. That they have heard their lovemaking coming from the mistress's rooms!"
"It is mere gossip Marius! No more talk of this. If the master were to come upon us talking about his daughter we will both surely be punished!", the woman said with a tone that said the conversation was over.

How dare Liberus repay him such! To violate his sweet daughter under his very roof! He would not have it. Would not lose his daughter to a lowly slave. His love had died and left him and now his daughter was fornicating with the man he had treated as a son. If the slaves were talking,
surely this would reach the city.

Felix felt betrayed. First the Gods had taken his beautiful wife by striking him with a disease that ultimately led to her death. Now the boy he took into his home and treated like a son was defiling his beloved daughter Pricilla. And without her purity, what man would take Pricilla to
wife? It seemed now that the only thing he had left was his career. If he did not do something so even that would be ruined for him. He paced his bedroom wringing his hands, and his sandals tapping the mosaic tiles underfoot.

Felix went in search of his daughter. As he walked into the garden Felix noted that Liberus' hand was just falling from his daughter waist and that her lips were full and red with her lover's kisses. Acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary, Felix greeted them both as he normally done. He pressed a kiss on his daughter's forehead and gave a handshake for Liberus.

"You are looking well my child. I hope your trip to town was enjoyable!" Felix spoke jovially. Pricilla smiled as best as she could considering her heart was breaking. Giving a short curtsy to her father, "Very well father. I hope you had a good rest."

"Wonderful! I have a surprise for you dearest. I have been called to Rome earlier then expected. I have received word that the emperor had request my audience. And you will be accompanying me. You must go and have your things packed immediately. We leave on the morrow!"

Chapter 2


Pricilla was happy for her father. It had been a long time since she had seen Felix so excited. And she was glad that the gossip about her had not reached the capital. Her father would not be disgraced. They were to stay in her father's domus in the city. Her spinster Aunt Julia would be
staying with them. She looked forward to seeing her, but this was tempered by her longing to be by Liberus' side. The first day had been filled with helping her aunt in the gardens or sewing and she was able to put thoughts of him aside. The next day was shopping and site seeing. Pricilla had never been to Rome before. She was raised in her Villa in Pompeii with her mother Fabia teaching her all the
ladylike arts to make her papa proud.
Pricilla found the city rather loud and overcrowded and soon begged a headache. A month passed, with her days helping her Aunt run the household and her nights dreaming of Liberus and all the lustful things she dared think of even in her dreams. She stood arranging flowers in her Aunt Julia's bedroom when her father summoned her. She was entering the tablinum when she saw that her father had a guest. He was an older man, with thinning Gray hair, round florid face, and squinty eyes. He was also very short, and very fat.
Felix greeted his daughter and begged her enter. She slowly took a seat as far from this visitor as she could, wondering why her father wanted her to meet such a man. By his purple garments she could tell he was one of Felix's fellow senators.
"Gallus Laurus, this is my daughter Pricilla." Felix smiled her indulgently. "Pricilla my dear, I am happy to present you to your future husband."
Pricilla sat stunned. Did he say husband? She looked over at the overfed pampered senator seating nearby. The man practically drooled looking her person over. She shuddered to thing that her father was thinking of giving her hand to this man. She was silent for a few moments when her father gave her a look to not make a scene.
"To what do I owe the great honor father?" She could barely get the words past her throat. An uncomfortable looked crossed her father face for an instant. Gallus turned and took Pricilla's hand in his.
"Felix has told me so much about you. Your beauty, talent with the needle and your
dutifulness are a great asset. You're exactly what I'm looking for in a wife. When I heard that you were visiting our fair city I decided to ask for your hand. He has consented and I am the happiest of men!" Gallus finished with a flourish and pressed his fat wet lips to the back of her hand. Pricilla wanted to snatch it back and object. This couldn't be happening! But she knew that she had no choice in the matter. She was a woman and could not make her own decisions. She had to obey her father.


*~*
Pricilla had been gone for some months. Liberus missed their talks and their strolls through the gardens when he was through with his duties. He missed her smile, and her laugh, and the way the sun shone in her dark hair. He hoped that she would be coming home soon. Even if he could
not speak to her again, to just see her would bring him bliss. He often went to the chapel to pray to the Gods to bring her home to him. It was on this rainy day that he knelt praying that his nightmare began.

Two burly servants, named Tobias and Marius, grabbed each of his arms and started to pull him from the room. Liberus strained against their beefy hands and yelled out to know what was going on. He tried to kick and twist out of their grip but it was useless. They ignored his demands
and dragged him through the streets to another's home. They threw him on the ground in front of a pair of sandaled feet. He looked up defiantly at his captors. The man in front of him greeted him with a pair of cold hard eyes.
He said, " this is how you greet your new master?" Before he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and everything went black.

Liberus became conscious hours later. He first became aware of the throbbing pain in his head. Then he could hear painful screams coming from outside the windowless room he found himself. He looked toward the door expecting to see bright sunlight shining outside only to see gray darkness. To his surprise he found himself unbound and struggled to come to his feet, swaying for a moment he made his way outside. He was in the heart of the city, and there were people running and screaming in the streets. For the first time he noticed that dark hot ash was pouring from the sky.
And as it fell upon his shoulders, the burning became more painful as he stood in the open. Moving into the doorway he looked across the street. From where he stood he saw some poor mongrel dog chained to the front of a building. It had curled into a ball and lie whimpering, near death. Liberus realized that it was getting harder and harder to breath. Like a flour sack being pressed to ones face by a powerful hand. He felt pity for the suffering animal. He could see the top of Mount Vesuvius spewing fourth its deadly black gas and ash; and panic filled him. Liberus knew that the city was doomed. He could try to run for safety but he suspected it was already to late.
Down the road there was a man and woman huddled together in the street. The man covered the body of his woman trying to protect her from the debris. But it was already too late. She let out her last desperate breath as the hot gaseous air asphyxiated her. Liberus clasped his throat. His breathing was labored; this would be his end. He knew he would be dead before the worst of the disaster hit. The man was now dead. The combination of burning pumice and poisonous air had claimed another victim. Protected by the building from some of the debris but not of this slow
suffocation, He thought of Pricilla there in Rome. And for once was glad that she had gone. For his love would have suffered the same fate. Liberus turned back to the dark room and sat in the corner, wrapping his arms around his knees. By now he was gasping for air. The distant screams faded from his mind and were replaced by visions of the woman that fate decreed would never be his. Wordless he mouthed her name as the grip of death squeezed that last breath from his lips.

*~* Few weeks later....

Pricilla couldn't see spending the rest of her life with the man her father had chosen. The wedding plans were in motion and she felt that her life was spinning out of her control. Between helping run the household and planning the event, she had little opportunity to think of Liberus except in her dreams. One night her dream had seemed so real. She and Liberus were back in the gardens of Villa Benedictus. The sights, scents, and sounds filled her with longing. He had his arms stretched out, and he was calling to her, despair and pain written across his face. She tried running to him but she was held back by Gallus, his fat sweaty hands pulling her away. Her Father was behind them in his senate robes his arms stretched to the sky; seemingly called out to the Gods. She turned back to Liberus and screamed. A dark cloud was coming over him and he was sinking into the ground. The air was hot as Hades and she felt short of breath. Desperately she fought the hands of her captor. She looked back toward Liberus, but all there was emptiness. She awoke and wept till she could not weep any longer.

It was then that she made up her mind to beg her father to stop the wedding. She had to tell him she was in love with another. Damn the consequences, if she couldn't be with Liberus, she rather die. Even if he said he would not then she would run away. Run back to Liberus and
together they could escape. About this time of day she knew that her father would be in the office alone. It was now or never.
Her father was seated at the desk when she came into the room and begged an audience. Felix did not look up but nodded his assent. She looked at her father for a moment. Something didn't seem right.
"Father, please I beg you. Call off this wedding for my sake. I can not marry someone I do not love!" A silence was all she got. She was getting nowhere and she was desperate. Pricilla got down on her knees before her father and pleaded with him.
"Oh please, I love someone else. I can not marry Gallus on the morrow." The tears fell upon
his feet. Felix pushed her away and got up.
"No! I will not stop the wedding. You are fortunate that Gallus would take you after that
servant has defiled you." The last words he said in loathing. Pricilla sat there shocked. This could not be. He couldn't possibly believe that she and Liberus had consummated their love! Where could he have gotten such an idea?
Felix stood over her, anger vibrating right off him. Fists clenched and face flushed; Felix circled Pricilla on the floor. The look of disgust on his face was almost too much for her to bear.
"I've been a good, obedient child. The love that Liberus and I feel is pure. We have never done anything to make you ashamed!" She stretched her arms out to him imploring him for mercy.
"If I can not be with him, you may as well reach inside my chest and rip out my heart!"
Her father hesitated for just a moment before the cold hard look in his eyes returned. "Never!" He said. Pricilla got up from the ground and squared her shoulders.
"Very well, continue with this farce of a wedding. Do not expect me to be there." She stood her ground and waited. A smug, ugly look came upon his face. Pricilla knew then that her father was mad, that he hadn't been the same since her mother passed. Taking a seat at his desk, Felix sat back and looked at her cruelly.
"If you think to run back to Pompeii to you lover, then think again." He chuckled gleefully.
"That is unless you plan on spending eternity in Hades with him." Looking up he waited for her to answer. A cold chill went through Pricilla's bones and she could only stand there frozen in fear.
"Vesuvius has buried the city under a pile of rock and your lover with it. I think I'll spare you the details my dear."

Pricilla ran from the room and the man who used to be her father. "He's lying!" She thought to herself. He had to be. He was just tricking her into thinking Liberus was dead so that she would go through with the marriage. She ran out into the gardens and to her Aunt who was carefully picking flowers. She fell to her knees in front of her. "It can't be true! Tell me Aunt; tell me he's lying! Her aunt looked to her with a pitying, knowing look. Without a word, Julia took Pricilla by the hand and led her to a corner of the garden. There she plucked a branch off the plant that sat hidden behind one of the more beautiful ones. She gave Pricilla a look that said that she knew her pain. She always wondered why her Aunt had never married. Before walking away she tucked this into Pricilla's hands saying, "May the Goddess Hora bless you both."

On her way back to her room, Pricilla found herself being pulled into the family chapel. A large hand was over her face, and another squeezed her breast cruelly. A hot reeking breath was pressed to her ear, "I think I'll have a taste of what awaits me on our wedding night!" Terror seized
her as the hands squeezed again painfully. Gallus was strong despite his poor physic. Pricilla wanted to gag at the things he proceeded to tell her what he had in store. She was being pressed back up against one of the frescoed walls of the chapel, with all her might she defended herself in the way that Liberus had taught her. With one swift kick in the groin, Gallus doubled over in pain. She stood there too frightened to move, and when he was again able to speak,
"You will pay for that my lovely. I think I'll leave you time to anticipate the lesson I will teach you!" Struggling to get his girth off the floor, Gallus used Pricilla to lift himself off the floor. This made her stumble and fall to the floor herself. She shrank back as he stalked her. When he had her back into a corner, he pressed his foot against her delicate wrist. Putting pressure there, he was deriving pleasure out of making her cry out in pain. "You just wait and see", he said maliciously.

When she was certain that Gallus was gone, Pricilla carefully used her good wrist to aid her off the floor. The tears she was holding back for at last able to fall freely down her face. Turning toward the altar in the center of the room, she got down on her knees and stretched out her arms to the sky.
"Oh Goddess Hora! Only you would know what I am going through. How can I live without my heart!" She knelt there for what seemed forever. Then the image of her Aunt and she in the garden came back to her. Could this be a sign from Hora? What could this mean? Looking back toward where Gallus had attacked her she noticed the slightly crumpled sprig of plant she was given. It came to her then. Had Hora not been reunited with Romulus after he had become the God Quirinus?
"Oh Goddess! Thank you for blessing with your wisdom. If you yourself can be reunited to your love, then I also can be with Liberus once more! " Pricilla rushed to take her precious cargo to her bedroom. Taking her salvation in hand she took the poison that would take her Liberus.

The day of the wedding dawned cool and dreary. Rain would surely come, a good sign of a long fruitful marriage. That was what Felix was thinking as Gallus and he went over his daughter's dowry when a startled scream rent the air. The sound of running feet and raised voices soon
followed. Annoyed that the servants were making such ruckus, Felix and Gallus moved to discover what all the fuss was about. As they drew near that growing crowd, a feeling of dread filled Felix. They were all crowded around the doorway to his daughter's room. Ordering everyone to get back to work, Felix entered the room stopping short. Pricilla's ladies maid lie, shoulders heaving, over his daughters still form. I chilling wail come from the girl. And looking up at her master's voice, her face was streaming with tears. Gallus, The big man that he was came in shortly after, gasping for breath. At the sight that met his eyes, his face turned and even darker shade of purple. He made his way to Pricilla's dead body and
struck the back of his plump hand across her face. Outraged, Gallus turned on Felix.
"I will not be made a fool of. When it gut's around that your whore of a daughter preferred death to marriage to me I will be a laughing stock!" Marching up to Felix, Gallus stabbed and stubby finger into Felix's chest. "If this gut's out your career is as good as over!", he said as he
stormed out of the room.
Felix stood frozen on the spot, his gaze taking in his daughter's peaceful continence lying cold on her bed. Falling to his knees beside her, Felix took her hands, which lie across her unmoving breast. Putting it behind his neck, Felix reached underneath her and picking her up rose to his feet. His sorrow overwhelmed him as he took her body to the family chapel. Kneeling in front of the shrine, he laid his daughter there. His face in his hands, Felix knelt there sobbing. He did not know how long he stayed there like this before thoughts of the source of his sadness came to him. The man who had seduced his daughter, The man that she had taken her life to be with in the afterlife.
Fury burned and flowed through his veins. Not only for Liberus but for his daughter as well. The madness he had tried to keep at bay overtook him at that moment. The disease that had damaged and weakened his wife's heart was now tearing into his mind with its sharp claws. Felix called out to his God.
"In whatever life they live hereafter may they never find one another. And if perchance they should cross paths, grant to me the ability to come back in whatever form that may be to keep them apart."
Taking out the dagger that he carried wherever he went Felix continued, "As they have taken away my happiness, so shall I keep theirs away from them!" Raising his dagger above him,
"Let this sacrifice please you!" Tilting his head back, Felix slashed down on his very own tongue.