Vince was perturbed by all that was going on as he walked through Aeterna. Many weeks had passed, and he had been unable to speak to Aemilia. Tiber had instructed him specifically to do so, but Vince wanted to find her for his own sake. Every day without her, the absence started to seep deeper.
The only time he saw her was when Tiber held council meetings and decreed the direction his new government would move. His mind did not quiet with these small moments where he could glance at her because her face was always serious and troubled. Many of her father’s best men in Hellas and bordering Gaulia were in quiet rebellion against their chosen leader and Tiber. The Storm household had also been irresponsible with their planning, failing to gather enough supplies to go out and bring the disobedient factions back into the fold.
In his own life, Vince dealt with the factions in his own family. Though Minstrel had gathered up the majority of Vesta’s people, Atticus and Cassian were being defiant of open orders. Their sacrifices to the Hearth were becoming slighter, and their service to the family in performing the rituals and maintaining the flame had all but disappeared.
With all the chaos unfolding, Vince’s mind wandered back to Aemilia. Only a short time ago, he would have been holding her close while their fathers took control of the world. Numitus would have taken all of Hellas at this point, and his next targets to reestablish the powers of the Old People would have been Damascus and Jerusalem. Tiber would have the city’s belly full and its coffers overflowing. Instead, the empire was in jeopardy. Tiber struggled to maintain a good balance in the treasury in spite of his machinations. And Vince was alone.
When his thoughts subsided and his eyes once again truly saw what was in front of him, Vince realized he was back in the pleasure district, Venus’s household. What had brought him here, he wondered. Was he truly becoming so desperate for comfort, or did the memories of a time not so long ago lead him here?
Eyes in the crowd seemed to find him. Everywhere Vince went in this place, he felt the weight of a hundred prying citizens eager to see the drama of an unfaithful husband of high standing. If not for the sight Vince saw, he would have left them wanting. Instead, a skirmish broke out before him.
The pleasure district was built like a labyrinth, with many of its roads being of cobblestone worn down by hundreds of years of travelers searching for its entrances and exits. Here, the roads were covered in fine rugs and other pleasantries befitting of a higher class bedroom. The primary trade of the district may have been prostitution, but there also exists a market to buy a piece of the place to bring home.
It was on one of these rugs that a young woman around Vince’s age was forcefully cast by a naked man twice her size. As if such a sight were not already offensive to his sensibilities, the man moved to do more harm to her.
At another time, a cooler head might have prevailed. Vince could have found the nearest city guards or gathered a force by his authority in that market place. He even could have let it be and allowed Era, the chosen of Venus, to deal with the violence. On this day however, Vince’s frustrations and anger got the best of him. Swiftly, Vince caught the man’s right arm in its pullback and slammed his fist directly into the near cheek of the woman’s assailant.
“Go.” He said to the woman after the man moved away holding his face. A deep, bellowing chuckle that grew into a laugh came from the struck man. Vince wished he carried a weapon as he was advised by Tiber.
“Someone has a strong arm.” The behemoth of a man said, still laughing ominously. He stood and turned, and Vince recognized him as Minos— chosen of the Storm. “The little boy wants to be a man.”
“It does not do well to have a council member beating a whore in the streets.” Vince answered, cursing himself silently for his foolishness. Minos just laughed.
“She bit my neck, and I did not tell her to.” Minos replied with a huge yellow grin. The long but tight curly mane that seemed to wrap his whole head, from crown to chin, made him look like a lion.
“That is no reason to cause a scene.”
“It is with one of the girls I frequent. Have to teach them not to do things I do not like. I would kill another one for far less.”
Vince did not answer, racking his mind for a way to get out of this situation. Minos had a reputation that was known from the mountains in Hispania to the Red Sea as a powerful warrior. Many questioned if it was not Numitus but Minos who was the strongest man in the world. Tiber had always said that Numitus would have won without contest. But the General had lost to Tiber.
The Storm leader watched Vince carefully, and his grin grew. Just before he could speak his mind, the crowd behind him and opposite Vince parted.
“You are always so unsightly, Minos.” A woman said, walking forward and dressed in a woolen toga the color of ivory. Vince knew her as Era. “I know you will pay, but I wonder if your money is any better than the empty promises of a pauper.”
“Ha!” Minos barked, unflinching at the fifteen armed men who stood behind her. “Era, my love, have you finally come to have me?”
“Get out of my quarter, craven.” She answered with no playfulness in her voice.
“Your harshness pains my heart, beloved.” Minos said, mockingly clutching the left of his chest. “And in front of our dear Tiber’s boy too.”
“Leave now.” Era demanded. “I will send for payment for the girl’s injury and the room.”
“Vincent, can you believe how awful some women are?” Minos turned to Vince. “You do everything for them and they still throw you away.”
Vince did not know what to say. Before him, two of the most powerful parties in Aeterna, each with the power to cast Tiber’s reign into chaos. What could he say that would pacify them both? The world was not so complicated when War would enforce the peace, but now such power lies with him.
“I believe that you have been asked to leave.” Vince answered, fortifying his voice so that he would not stutter. “I will take your advice on women to heart.”
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Era tilted her head in confusion as to the second part of Vince’s words. Minos, on the other hand, smiled and bellowed out his laugh once more.
“A true politician. That old eagle has sunk his claws into you already.” Minos said, going over to one of the rug stands and snatching one of the larger ones off to fashion a covering at his waist. “Take it up with Tiber about the money, Era. Storm is in charge with Vesta now. And you boy, I will let my memory of your strike fade away. We are brothers of a certain kind. What else would a brother do?”
One last laugh rumbled while Minos passed by Vince and left the quarter without any greater chaos. Vince relaxed, believing that the threat to his life had passed as he watched the massive man leave. That notion was dispelled when he heard Era’s footsteps approach, and felt both her hands take up one of his.
“Thank you, dear Vincent.” She said with a soft but elegant smile. “Such a brute could have caused many more problems if he had not left.”
“I do not think I did anything to make him leave.” Vincent answered, trying to keep his calm facade while his cheeks began to warm. “If you will—”
“You are quite brave for a young man.” She talked over him. Many of the eyes that were watching him turned away as to not gaze upon the lady of Love. “Please, will you not indulge me by accompanying me to my apartment?”
“I—” Vince felt the spell of Love begin to fall over him. Though his expression had not yet betrayed him, he could not bring himself to decline. To Era, he must appear dumbstruck.
“Let us go.” Era said, pulling Vince by his arm. With a wave of her hand, all of her armed guards dispersed, and the marketplace returned to its business. Unable to say anything, Vince was led through the district to one the three story buildings within the labyrinth’s heart. Once inside, they went into a room filled with red cushions and smelling of sweet incense.
“I hope you will find comfort here.” She told him, going and taking a seat on the bed. “Please sit here.”
Without any will of his own, Vince did as he was told, sat, and listened further.
“I will simply repay you for your duty.” She took up his hand once more. “Such a young, daring boy. Do you know that Minos has done this before?”
Vince shook his head.
“He is a long tenured client of Venus’s services. Before Numitius took the seat of power and Minos was a young boy just like you, he beat the girls all he liked. The guards were afraid of him. Even the General of Aeterna, the leader of War at the time, would not raise a hand against him. Only Numitus when he returned from east of Persepolis would face him. From there, that glorious General grew in power, defeating both Minos and the General in the same year. A magnificent tale of strength, truly.”
They sat in silence as Vince said nothing. His mind was clouded, and much of his thoughts were not his own. With all his might, he pictured in many fleeting corners of his mind images of Aemilia and prayed to Vesta that he might not abandon her. After some time in silence, Era spoke again.
“Daring indeed.” Her voice was sultry, yet it was intrigued. “Tell me, how might you resist my charm? A gift from the goddess of Love does not fail so easily. Tell me do you find me beautiful?”
Like he had just passed into the eye of a storm, the clouds which fogged Vince’s mind cleared. And without hesitation, he answered.
“No.”
“Oh dear.” Era said, eyes widening for a brief moment before her expression changes to a wry smile. “And here I was so nice to you. It might be that my time as Venus’s chosen is nearing its end.”
“You are a fine woman, but I belong to another.” He answered, his breaths becoming pants. Whatever spell she had cast, it caused his body to need more air. Era stood and went to the door, leaving Vince seated on the bed.
“Perhaps, there is another girl suitable to your liking?” Era said just before she was about to leave. “Though you think little of me, I truly meant to thank you.”
“There is no need.” Vince said. “Vesta is the goddess of orphans and widows. I would fail in my duty to let even a warrior like Minos violate my goddess’s favored people.”
“I see. You are a daring boy indeed to lie to me twice.” She smiled playfully. “Be a weary man if you want to one day rule. Just then, maybe, I will support your rule.”
Era vanished into the hallway, closing off the room he was in. Vince took his time to gather his breath and strength. In his heart, he felt the weight of that failure of his to desire another woman, though he acted on nothing. Even should Aemilia abandon him forever, Vince would die a very shameful death knowing he truly forsook her.
When he could finally stand, he did, made for the door, and opened it to find another woman before him. She pushed him back into the room, and though his strength remained, Vince failed to resist her.
“There is no need to leave so soon, Vincent.” She said with a voice sweet like honey. “My lady Era has just left, yet you can still stand. I would be happy to serve you until you are satisfied.”
“I need no service.” Vince answered, trying to get around the woman who stubbornly would not move. When he finally relented and took a moment to see who blocked his path, his breath stopped.
“Will the lady Cytherea be to your liking?” The woman named herself with a knowing grin.
What Vince saw was a woman who was perfect in body, so much so that she appeared alien. Her face was pale like seafoam, eyes the color of deep ocean water, and light blonde hair long like a midsummer day. The purple silken robe hugged her womanly features while unwinding around the arms to hang like sashes. No woman, not even Aemilia could catch his eye like her. Cytherea, that was her name. An island in Hellas devoted to Love had the same name.
Her hand found his face, comforting and arousing at the same time. Vince’s mind lost sight of the chaos that engulfed his world. No longer did Vesta’s factions matter, nor did Tiber’s work to make Aeterna his own. All that lingered was a lone glimpse of Aemilia’s face that nearly faded from him.
“Do you not know that Love conquers all?” Cytherea whispered his ear, so close that Vince could hear her shallow breath. “ War and Storm both seek what I have. I will give it to you.”
Vince felt his legs give out, and he fell to the floor. Unlike with Era whose charm had merely warped his willpower, Cytherea made Vince feel such desire along with impotency. In his soul, fear and lust and all other emotions battled for supremacy, leaving Vince as but a harmless shell of a man on the ground.
Cytherea’s face changed. What was once a woman of seduction turned into a bitter mistress with a sharp expression.
“What a curious find.” She said. Vince caught only a small glimpse of once blue eyes now made golden, and they pierced him. “I thought Era had failed. Indeed, she has. Yet, unity with Family was impossible from the start.”
Vince’s consciousness began to fade.
“Tiber found the lone man who might be more worthy than him. I will be watching you.”
Blackness overtook Vince, and he swam in it until he awoke in the same room. Cytherea was gone, and Era had not returned. The fear and confusion that was held at bay by his collapse washed over him soon after. With no regard for decorum or his own dignity, he ran from the apartment, from the pleasure district itself, all the way back to his goddess’s temple where he threw himself before the hearth and prayed for protection.
