Never again did she want to feel rough hands breaking her, breaking her spirit, subjugating her to his will, disrespecting her.

Arminius was nearly in front of her. A cold sweat coated Lucretia's forehead accompanied by a gut-wrenching feeling beseeching her to flee and never look back. If it was solely her, she would. The crates and barrels positioned behind her would be a favourable hurdle to bring between them. His colossal frame would have difficulties forcing past them and she could run to safety. But she couldn't abandon her sister. What would a man this pressuring do to Cal?

Hastily, Lucretia fidgeted with the hem of her dress and pulled out the dagger. One second later, he would have grabbed her by the shoulders. Now the blade glistened dangerously close to his chest.

"It seems, your wit has left you!" Both hands clenched the hilt. Lucretia made her choice, to stay and protect Cal.

The nonchalance in Arminius had vanished and a calculated tenseness pulsed through his body. He raised his hands as if to signal his cooperation. "The way you are clutching that toothpick will only harm you and not me!"

"Don't move!" she demanded. The defensive blade felt cumbersome in her perspiring hands. It was meant to deter him from coaxing Cal into disgrace. But to no avail. He positioned himself in front of Cal, cutting off any visual contact she shared with Lucretia. If she wanted him to desert, she had to proceed with more conviction. The tip of the knife poked through Arminius's tunica, ready to dig into his flesh. All she had to do is lunge forward to end their fray. He would have done the same if he was in her position. Yet, she wasn't a fighter, much less a cutthroat.

"Leave! Now! Don't force me to use this on you!"

"Stop this! At once!" The commotion was interrupted by Cal, forcing both Lucretia and Arminius apart. Lucretia maintained eye contact with him while lowering the weapon, alleviating the tension. A slim cut was the only damage to the fabric and she was glad she was saved from enforcing her irrevocable intent.

Slowly Arminius lowered his arms and his calm composure returned as well as his arrogant smile. "If you anticipate an attack, be assured, I never intended to graze you!"

"It is best if we leave!" Without letting on her disastrous inner turmoil, Lucretia grabbed Cal by the hand and pulled her away from further jeopardy. Her sister remained rooted in the same place.

"Cal!" Lucretia yanked her hand. Cal's sudden apathy perpetuated a feeling of helplessness in Lucretia.

"He was departing until you interfered!" Cal whispered as she wrenched the knife out of Lucretia's possession and motioned for her to be silent.

Embarrassed, she freed herself from Lucretia's grip and turned to Arminius.

"Please forgive her follies, she is but a child!" Submissively, she battered her eyes.

"There is nothing to forgive," Arminius reached for Cal's hand, who still grasped the dagger, and without any care for decency nor Lucretia's presence placed a gentle kiss on it. "Don't fret! Your salvation is nothing but a request and I will inquire at the earliest opportunity." He relieved her of the burdensome dagger and stowed it in his tunica's folds. Cal blushed, unable to hide her affection. He bowed and darted a final glance at Lucretia.

"I will take care of this. Don't want you to be at your wit's end!" Amused he patted the folds of his tunica.

An unease lingered even after Aminius's departure. Lucretia wished she had never taken the back road and tried to rescue Cal. She could have been home by now, washing off the exhaust of the day and tending to her garden. But instead, she aped a saviour, lacking the skill of persuasion to overcome her diminutive standing. All these thoughts occupied her. She eschewed Cal's sight, too dismayed to confront her perfidious sister. Lucretia departed without waiting for her.

***

At the residence, Lucretia stormed towards the impluvium (water basin). It hadn't rained in several days and most of the water had evaporated leaving a shallow puddle. She would have loved to splash some water on her face, cooling the seething frustration. She had come for Cal's rescue and not to be patronized. Why did Cal favour a deviant man over her little sister?

"I always forget how quickly your feet can carry you," Cal's voice didn't carry the scold from earlier. She approached Lucretia from behind and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder which Lucretia shook off.

"Let me be!" She put distance between them and moved to the shrine. Both lar and penate (guardian & household deities) stood ideally surrounded by the miniature statues of Mercury and Ceres. The flames that illuminated the sanctum had burned out, therefore she lit each in hopes of appealing to the gods.

Unruffled, Cal knelt next to the basin, her hand dangling inches above the ground. "When do you think it will rain again? This heat is uncommon for the month of Februarius."

Lucretia stared into the light as if she could conjure torment for those who had wronged her. "Why are you looking for him?"

"Our encounter happened by chance. Arminius helped draw water from the fountain and carried it for me," Cal said accompanied by a shrill giggle.

"I don't see any water," Lucretia accused her.

"We were already done by the time you arrived. I directed him to his-"

"Don't act stupid. I was privy to the whole conversation!" Lucretia spun around and stared at Cal's back. "Don't make me believe this happened by chance and you didn't have ulterior motives to pursue him!"

"Arminius-"

"It is not him I care about!"

Slowly, Cal twisted her body around eyeing Lucretia from afar. "You should be thankful I watch over you!"

"Thankful? For what? If this is your attempt at mending fences, you clearly have failed. As I explained yesterday night, there is no need for your meddling," pleading Lucretia stepped in front of a pillar. "Besides, how could you side with a fool cajoling you and not your sister?"

"You threatened him with a knife!" Cal's head swung around. "What possessed you to act in this sordid manner? What if he was armed as well?"

A wave of shame overcame Lucretia and she stepped back into the safety of the halo, turning to face the deities who remained silent as their glowing grimace goggled at the ceiling. She wished the last three days to be a figment of her imagination, a nightmare she could wake from. It had driven her to questionable behaviour and unexplainable distress.

"Who allows oneself to be cornered by a stranger?" Lucretia muttered to herself.

"Arminius is no stranger."

"If not a stranger, then what is he?"

"He is just a... an acquaintance."

"An acquaintance?" Lucretia looked back over her shoulder. "What about the man you are promised to?"

Cal turned her face away.

"An acquaintance who tries to kiss you? Who knows what else he had in mind?" Lucretia moved towards Cal and towered over her. "Men take what they want without any care in the world, the selfish all-consuming need to be satisfied won't stop them from your virtuous masquerade." Lucretia had experienced how swift it could turn.

"Arminius would never..." An ashamed blush covered Cal's cheeks and she quickly stared at the ground of the basin as if this could hide her embarrassment.

"I am not blind! You are running after a nonentity who could ruin you," Lucretia pointed at her. "This Arminius doesn't care about you, all he wants is to have his way with you and you are making it very easy for him. Is that what you want?"

Cal flinched at Lucretia's words. They felt like a slap to the face.

"Is that what you think of me?" Cal stood up and faced Lucretia. "That I am a simple harlot, prostituting myself for favours?"

"This is not what I said!" Lucretia halted.

Cal stormed off.

"I...I didn't mean that!" Lucretia called after her. "Wait! Cal!"

Just as Cal had left, her mother entered the atrium. "Lucretia! Have you seen your sister?"

"No." Lucretia turned back to the altar and moved the figurines to a formation of her liking. She was not in the mood to suffer her mother's nagging after a quarrel with her sister. 

Calpurnia turned to depart when she circled and scrutinize Lucretia's appearance. "Where have you been?"

"At the temple, as always."

"And where is your lictor (bodyguard)? I bet, you were wandering the street by yourself. Imagine someone saw you unaccompanied! What the neighbours would say! Coelia Concordia does not care about what happens outside her temple?"

"Father said there was nothing to spare, and I don't mind. It gives the neighbours something to talk about." Her mother stared at her in amazement.

"You and your father will be the death of me! I wished your manners were as superb as your cockiness. Well, not all prayers are answers. But that can wait! We have pressing matters to discuss! Where is your sister? She was supposed to come straight to me! She's usually the obedient one, not like you!"

Lucretia refrained from further poking at her mother and pointed in the direction Cal had stormed off to.

"At least you are listening for once! And why the long face? With that frown, you will end up an old maiden with dreadful wrinkles!"

She departed and left Lucretia alone with her sorrows.

***

In the airy hallway, the door to Publius's tablinum (office) opened. Hoping to engage her father in a round of latrunculi (Roman board game), Lucretia approached the entrance.

"You have retired early, Father." She couldn't remember the last time they had played and a match would prompt him to finally engage in a conversation she so dearly treasured.

She was stunned when an Aethiopian man loomed behind her father. He forced past Publius and collided with Lucretia.

"Can't you see where you are going?" he cautioned her.

"Lucretia," startled Publius ushered him towards the atrium. "Tadele, my youngest daughter..."

"Apologies," she uttered. "It is an honour to make your acquaintance noble Tadele," she curtseyed reluctantly hoping not to undermine her father's associate.

Tadele nodded quickly. "Where were we? Ah...You claimed that the last time," he confronted Publius.

"Tadele, have I ever cheated you?" Publius placed a hand on Tadele's shoulder, walking him further away from Lucretia who wasn't welcome to the dealings of men.

"No," distrustfully Tadele replied.

"The corn has already been stored, no need to trouble yourself. By next month the payment will be delivered to your account."

"I need my payment now not in a month, Publius."

"Be patient, Tadele. You will receive your money," Lucretia's father promised. He steered Tadele further towards the fauces (narrow entrance passages).

Lucretia only caught the back of the stranger as he puffed and exited.

Publius scratched his head absentmindedly, a gesture he resort to when he felt cornered. "Why don't I invite you to some wine and maybe a proper meal?" he proposed.

Tadele's reply was inaudible to Lucretia but her father suppressed a chuckle. "Excellent! I'm right behind you, go ahead!" He entered the atrium and passed Lucretia making a beeline for his tablinum.

"I hope you are not in trouble." Ever since Lupercalia (festival), her father's sharp attention had waiver and he seemed occupied with thousand other matters. "Can I assist you with anything?" She followed him.

"Don't waste your time worrying about me," Publius retrieved a chest and opened it with a key he carried with him.

"Are you positive?" she looked at the treasure he handled.

"How are your studies going?" He counted the measly amount of coins scattered across the bottom of the chest.

"Only two weeks until my ceremony," she approached his table.

"Well, I am happy about your accomplishment! We need to celebrate it!" Distracted, he wavered about whether he should spend another coin.

"Yes, I hope we have time for that, with Cal's betrothal on the horizon, I know Mother will have everyone occupied."

"You know?" he ceased. "Your mother was correct about you and your sister yesterday."

"What do you have in mind, Father?"

"No worries, we will make time for you." He decided to take more coins than advisable. "Tell your mother, I won't be attending dinner tonight," he said before he exited.

"As you wish, Father!" disappointed Lucretia called.

He halted, "Is there a reason for your visit?"

His nervous trot, anticipation to leave, discouraged her to confess. Her mother's onslaught still lingered in her mind and she remembered why she sought her father's company, but she refrained from any further complaints. "No, Father."

"That doesn't seem like the Lucretia I know," gently he rubbed her head, hoping to get a confession out of her as he used to when she was a little girl.

"We haven't played latrunculi (Roman board game) in a while, Father". She feigned a smile.

"To play a round, would be an ideal distraction at the moment. I rather enjoy my time with none but you."

His eyes wandered over her face, pleading for her understanding. His hand gently caressed her cheek, before he placed it on her shoulder and studied her closely.

She would have don't anything for his attention but his hands rub dangerously close to the bruise, and yet the memory of the assault hurt more than the actual contusion. She knew her father was already dealing with more than she was allowed to know. Not only the financial burden of Cal's dowry rested heavily on his shoulders but the lean harvest of last year could be catastrophic for her father's business. To deal with a privileged hooligan, was certainly too much for her father. Titus promised to deal with his brother and this was nothing but a little mark. There was nothing to worry about—no need for her father to worry about her as well.

She quickly pulled the shawl tighter around her neck, hoping she concealed her bruised neck from her father.

"Tadele won't wait, we can play another time, Father."

A firm nod of her approval encouraged Publius to exit his office.

***

The late afternoon sun had lowered and the pillar surrounding the archway cast long shadows across the peristylium. Lucretia had retired to her garden. Kneeling in the dirt, she felt at home. Her domain to raise, nurture, and protect. The steady task of digging distracted her from the confrontation with Arminius and the following dispute with her sister. Lucretia was setting a seedling in the narrow hole when her brother entered the courtyard. Flaccus had a wary expression on his face, but when he spotted Lucretia's gaze on him he banished it like it never exist and put on a bright smile.

"Lucretia! My favourite sister!" In a confident stride, he marched through a shrug of borage, trampling them in his wake. Like a bear, his shoulder shadowed the setting sun. He lowered to her level and started digging holes with a finger, scooping crates with his paw, next to the mint Lucretia buried in another layer of dirt.

"As you see, you are accomplishing the opposite," Lucretia commented without taking her eyes off her task.

"Am I?" His broad stature seemed foreign in between all the plants, not knowing what to do nor how to behave. "How was your day?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, besides my ruined work."

He paused his digging. "Cal mentioned you were in low spirits."

For a second she stopped and looked at him. "Did she send you?"

"No!" He was lying.

Lucretia returned to her task, hoping her brother didn't spot the sudden shift in her. "My awaiting ceremony occupies my mind. There won't be a turning back. After my oath, I won't be able to call you my favourite bother anymore and that is frightening me."

His body relaxed and he dusted off the remaining soil on his hands.

"That's pleasant to hear." Any continuation on his part ceased and he let himself drop to the ground, trampling any plants that hadn't suffered under his size.

"Don't destroy the rest of my plants," Lucretia shoved him off the patch, hoping he wouldn't sabotage her efforts further. "Pass me the sarculum (a garden hoe)."

Any acrobat would have been envious of Flaccus's roll across the pathway as he bounced up with juvenile glee.

"It's behind you." Lucretia pointed at the staff camouflage behind a shrub.

Without Lucretia anticipating, Flaccus seized her arm and swung her onto the pavement, forcing her to stand on unsound footing.

"I do not have time for your games, Flaccus!" She pushed him off but was propelled into a headlock between his armpit. "You need to take a bath. You reek like a pig," she tried to push him off.

"You think so," his grip exceeded, scratching her head with his knuckles. "Show me what I have taught you!"

Her struggle was in vain, he wouldn't relinquish his hold around her neck and countered her movements by flinging them further into the plot.

"Stop it, Flaccus!" she disgorged the words in her dismay.

"Come on, Lu! You're the one who challenged me. This is simply retaliation," he laughed.

Her pulse increased and she was feeling a cold sensation crawling over her skin. Sharp pains pierced her lungs. Her breath came in in short bursts, lightheadedness clouded her view. She pounded against strong arms, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't flee. It was like she had been in this scenario before. Images flared up in front of her eyes. Hands formed around her, around her throat, closing in, tighter and tighter, until they consumed all of her. She was in the alleyway again. With him. Gaius.

Lucretia clutched his arm. Under her breath, she could only mutter, "Please, stop. I beg you!" Hot tears rolled down her face.

"I guess you have to learn it the hard way," the voice of Gaius reverberated in her mind.

"I can do anything I want with you."

Abruptly, he dropped her like a heavy stone.

"What is bothering you? Why are you weeping?" It was her brother hovering over her.

The drop had scraped her elbows and a sharp pain coursed through her. Irritated, she pushed her brother away. "You were not yourself...leave me alone!"

"Don't make a fuss. You usually enjoy this!" Flaccus said.

He tried stopping her from leaving, but she secluded herself in the shades under the gallery leading towards the atrium.

Her brother's ignorance astounded her. He hadn't inherited her mother's cunningness nor her father's diligence but instead fostered unexplainable oblivion towards life. She loved Flaccus's triviality and his enthusiasm for overcoming hardship thrown at him with ease. Still, today it burdened her how effortless one could manipulate him and how clueless he was to the suffering of others.