VI

NO THINKING, NO HESITATION

HE WANTS your father's head.

Caecilia couldn't blame him. Lucius had lost everything because of Acacius. He had lost his home, his friends and, most of all, someone he loved because her father. How could she blame him? She couldn't.

But Hanno didn't know her father had to do the emperors' bidding. He didn't know that what he did was part of his plan to save Rome.

Maybe she could change his mind about her father. Maybe she could help him. But how? Caecilia had no idea. She was convinced, especially after what he did days before, that Lucius wouldn't listen to her.

Caecilia didn't want Hanno to try to attack and kill her father, but she didn't want him to die either. Within days, she began to care about Lucius. More than she ever expected.

Maybe it was Lucilla's stories about her lost son, who died under unknown circumstances and who after many years had came back to Rome. Or maybe it was something else.

Because Caecilia had learned about Lucius from what Lucilla told her, but she cared about that gladiator she had seen for the first time fighting against Vicen in the palace.

When she had seen Lucius for the first time, Caecilia had something inside her that she couldn't explain. But she felt something, just like Lucius.

It was as if they knew who they were before they actually met. Although, in reality, Caecilia knew who Lucius was, but Lucius didn't know the true identity of Caecilia. And he shouldn't find out.

«You spend a lot of time with that gladiator.» Caecilia's thought were interrupted by Acacius. They were going to the palace. Geta and Caracalla wanted to discuss the next war with their general and Caecilia decided to go with him. «I talked with Ravi and...»

«You talked with Ravi?» the girl replied, without giving her father a chance to finish the sentence. What he had said, was a really strange thing to hear. «I thought you hated him.»

«I don't hate him. It's just...» Acacius paused for a moment, sighing. Every time he thought of Ravi, his mind raced to memories of his wife. «Your mother almost died trying to save his life.»

«But she survived.» Caecilia replied. She was defending Ravi because he didn't deserve to be hated for something he didn't do. He was a good friend to her mother, and that meant he was also a good man.

Caecilia had met Ravi when she was a child and, even if Acacius had initially refused to let her to talk with him, he had come to realise that his wife wouldn't have wanted him to prevent Ravi to know their daughter.

In this way, Caecilia had become friend with Ravi, just as her mother didi before her. And Ravi became as an uncle for Caecilia, just as she would want her best friend to be.

But that wasn't the only reason Caecilia was defending Ravi from her father. There was something else she had been carrying around all this time. She had never spoken to her father about it. Lucilla and Ravi were the only ones who knew the truth.

«If you want to blame someone for her death, you should blame me.» Acacius would never have wanted Caecilia to say those words. Unfortunately, he knew that moment would come.

«Don't even think about that for a moment, Caecilia. It's not your fault, okay?» Acacius paused for a second, forcing Caecilia to do the same as he placing his hand on her shoulder.

When her father called her name, Caecilia knew he was serious. It rarely happened but that moment, Acacius was it. So much. «She died giving birth to me.»

«She died by Gods' will.» Acacius replied, moving his hands on her daughter's cheeks. «She was too gentle for this world. Maybe the Gods took her to a better place without war, but only with peace and love.»

Caecilia closed her eyes for a moment, hoping that her father was right. She thought about her mother many times, especially what her life would have been like if she had been alive. «I know you miss her.»

«I miss her, you're right. But she left me the most beautiful thing I coul ever have in my life.» Acacius said, his tone of voice became lower and sweeter than a moment before. «You.»

Caecilia felt her eyes fill with tears. She hugged him, with no hesitation. «I love you, father.» she whispered, the face hidden in his chest. Caecilia hugged him tightly, as Acacius wrapped his arms around his body and smiled.

«I love you too, sweetheart.»

≫ ──── ≪ • ◦ ❈ ◦ • ≫ ──── ≪

«Acacius, Caceilia.» Caracalla's voice was the first one they heard when they arrived at the palace. The young emperor greeted them with a big smile on his face.

«Dondus!» Caecilia said as she saw Caracalla's monkey running towards her. She loved that monkey, and the monkey loved her. Aside Caracalla, the girl was probably the only one Dondus liked.

«Dondus, don't hurt Caecilia! Take it easy!» Caracalla scolded his monkey when she jumped on Caecilia's hair. He tried to bring her down, uselessy. But the girl was not annoyed, because she had always loved animals, especially Dondus.

«Don't worry, Caracalla. She can do whatever she wants.» Caecilia reassured him, a smile came out of her face while she caress Dondus. «You take very good care of her, you know?»

«Thank you. She's special to me.» Caracalla replied, looking at his monkey with a lovely gaze. She was probably his best friend, the only one who didn't think he was truly crazy. «Just like you are to Geta.»

Caecilia's smile quickly disappeared from her face after Caracalla's words. She knew Geta was interested in her, but she felt something different. Maybe something would be wrong that day.

«Where is your brother?» Acacius asked, before his daughter could. He had listened to the conversation between Caecilia and Caracalla without intervening. Because he had something else to think about.

He had looked around, searching for Geta but without finding him. Caracalla was alone, and that was a rare thing to see. If Geta wasn't with his brother, that meant he had something important to do. Or to think about.

«He's getting ready.» Caracalla answered, looking at Caecilia. He smiled, as if he knew what was happening. Geta didn't tell him, but Caracalla wasn't stupid. He understood, even before the others.
«For what?»

But Caracalla didn't answer. He had no time, actually. Because Geta entered the room, approaching them. He smiled at Acacius, who lowered his head slightly. And then... then he took a moment to look at Caecilia. «I'm sorry for the late.»

Caecilia looked back at him, as she felt Dondus moved away from her to go to Caracalla. Geta was different that day. Caecilia noticed something new in his eyes, almost if he were... afraid? Why would an emperor like him be afraid of something?

«We're all here, so... let's go have lunch!» Caracalla suddenly said, interrupted Caecilia's thoughts. Geta moved away his gaze from her to look at his brother and nod.

Caracalla was the first to move, followed by Acacius. Caecilia was about to step forward, when she noticed Geta hesitate. He was looking at the floor, and seemed to be overthinking too much.

«Are you okay?» Caecilia asked him, getting closer to the emperor. Acacius noticed that little gesture. Why his daughter was worrying about Geta?

Geta looked up at her and, unlike Caecilia thought, he didn't smile to reassure her. «I have to talk with you, later. It's... important.» he then said, a serious expression on his face.

Caecilia didn't understand, but her father did instead. It had no more time. He had to hurry up.

≫ ──── ≪ • ◦ ❈ ◦ • ≫ ──── ≪

«Are you enjoying the games?» Caracalla asked Acacius and Caecilia during lunch. He had a smile on his face which Caecilia didn't like. She knew he was sick, but she couldn't help but think someone was enjoying the men's death.

«They are... interesting.» Acacius answered, after looking at his daughter for a second. «But they are not necessary.» he then said, almost annoyed by that question. Caecilia couldn't blame him. She felt the same way about her father.

«They are necessary until the emperors want them.» Caracalla replied, suddenly changing the tone of his voice. Another characteristic of his ilness was his moodiness. He could get angry so quickly, even committing dangerous actions.

Caecilia and Acacius expected Geta to support his brother's words. Instead, he said and did nothing. He continued to eat, the look on his plate and a serious expression on his face. He seemed so disinterested in their conversation.

Caracalla didn't notice the strange behavior of Geta, unlike Caecilia and Acacius. After his words, he began to feed Dondus. For this reason, Caecilia and Acacius looked at each other before deciding not to continue the conversation.

So the rest of the lunch was spent in silence. Everyone around that table was lost in their own thoughts. Everyone, unlike Caracalla who was continuing to talk to his monkey.

After lunch, Geta and Acacius began to talk about the next military campaign. The emperor seemed to have returned to his former self. Maybe Caecilia was just impressed and Geta had never changed that day. But Acacius had also noticed Geta's strange behaviour.

«Can I ask you something?» Caracalla interrupted her thoughts. Caecilia, who was looking at Geta and her father until that moment, turned to the young emperor and nodded. «Do you think I am weird?»

Caecilia almost softened at the question. Caracalla was sick, and Geta told her he was getting worse every day. She couldn't imagine Caracalla thinking he was different. «You are perfect just the way you are, Caracalla.»

Maybe not exactly as perfect as he was, because he loved the games at the Colosseum and watching people die because of them. But Caecilia knew what he was referring to.

«My brother will be so lucky to have you.» Caracalla said, but after those words left his mouth, he blinked and put a hand to his lips. «I wouldn't have said that.»

Caecilia was about to ask him was he meant, but Caracalla quickly ran away with Dondus following him. He left Caecilia with a lot of doubts... doubts that only Geta could now answer.

So she waited for him, watching from afar as he and her father finished talking. «Where is Caracalla?» Geta asked the moment they moved towards Caecilia. «It doesn't matter. He's probably with his guard.»

Caecilia was ready to ask Geta to talk with him, when he beat her to it. «Have you a moment? Then you're free to go with your father. I promise.»

Caecilia looked at Acacius, who seemed more restless than usual. Did he know something? Of course not, but he could imagine what would happen a moment after their conversation.

But Caceilia wanted to know the truht, epsecially after Caracalla's words. So she nodded to Geta and followed him to a more isolated and secluted place in the palace.

«I'm sorry, about the days before.» Geta said after a while. He had took a moment to be ready to start that conversation with Caecilia. He needed to find the courage to do so.

«It's okay. You are an Emperor, your duty is to fulfill the will of your people. Power is important.» Caecilia smiled at Geta, trying to be convincing. Her mind was still full of thoughts about Lucius.

«Power is not the only thing that interests me.» Geta whispered, stopping to walk for a moment and forcing Caecilia to do the same. He didn't say anything more, but stared at her.

It looked like he wanted to say or do something, but he didn't have the courage. Ironic, because he was an Emperor and a man with that power could do anything he wanted.

«Every day your beauty increases.» Geta whispered again, as he placed a hand on Caecilia's cheek. He started to trace the lines of her face, making her swallow lightly. His touch was so gentle.

Caecilia knew what it would happen if she didn't move away from Geta. But she did nothing. Instead, she remained still, waiting. «I don't know what to say.»

«Say nothing.» Geta replied, finally looking at her. Caecilia saw something different in his eyes. It was not fear anymore. It was determination. Because he wanted to do something and he found the courage to do it. And finally... he did.

Before Caecilia could understand what was happening, Geta placed his lips on hers. Had that gesture taken her by surprise? Maybe, but she knew that moment would arrive sooner or later. And a part of her had wanted it and had been waited for it.

She had never told anyone, but she had had a little crush on Geta. Before he became a tyrant with his brother, actually. She had had feelings for him for a while, when he was a boy more different than the man who had became.

And yet in those days Caecilia saw that humanity that characterized the old Geta. The real Geta. But she didn't know that it wouldn't last long. Unfortunately.

What had she felt kissing Geta in that moment? She had no idea. She only knew a part of her wanted him, so she had kissed him back. A soft kiss, not violent. Just the way she liked it.

They moved away after a short while. Geta looked at her, waiting fot the right moment to speak and say what he wanted to tell her for a while. He took a few seconds to look at her face, trying to understand what she had felt.

«You could be an Empress, if you want. By my side, you could rule everything and everyone you want.» he then said, caressing her cheek. In that moment, he felt his heart lighter than days before.

He waited so much for that moment, not to decided what was the right moment to have that conversation with Caecilia. He took the courage in those days, because he had felt they had become closer as they once were.

Caecilia finally looked at him, and saw the hope in his eyes. Because he wanted her to accept his proposal. But he didn't know the truth.
«I don't want power. I'm not interested in it.»

«But you can have me.» Geta replied, taking her face in his hand to lift her head slightly. He took a few seconds before speaking again. He closed his eyes and sighed. The moment had finally came. «If you marry me.»

Those words made Caecilia's heart skip a beat. Her breathing disappeared for a second. Caecilia knew that moment would come, but she didn't expect soon. And now, she didn't know what to say to him.

«I'll give you time. I don't want to put pressure on you.» Geta said, before Caecilia could say anything. He didn't want an immediate answer from her. He knew that was an important things to think about. So Caecilia needed time. And he would give it to her.

But he didn't know the truth.

≫ ──── ≪ • ◦ ❈ ◦ • ≫ ──── ≪

«What?» Caecilia asked after smiled at a funny joke by Lucius. She was with the gladiator, again. After lunch with the emperors and her father, and especially after what had happened with Geta, she had decided to go to Lucius.

Why? She didn't know. But she had felt she had to go to him. She wanted to go, probably because at that moment she didn't want to think about what had happened with Geta and Lucius seemed to be the only person who could help her.

They met other times in those days, after the conversation in which Caecilia revealed to Lucius that she knew his true identity. They didn't talk about it anymore and Lucius was so grateful of that.

They talked about other things. In those days they had learned something more about each other. They became friend, if they could call themselves friends.

«Nothing, just... I like you smiling.» Lucius said, still looking at her. Actually, he didn't like the way she smiled. He loved it. In those days he felt something weird inside himself.

Every time he saw Caecilia come into his cage and keep him company even for a few minutes, it made him happy. Every single time.

«Is that a compliment, gladiator?» Caecilia teased, smiling again. Lucius did the same, moving closer to her. They were sitting, so he only had to move his leg a little closer to hers to touch her.
«It is?»

«I should order to cut out your tongue.» Cacecilia threatened him, pushing his leg away with hers. Lucius laughed slightly, shaking his head. That girl could make him smile like he hadn't for days.

«You should, and Geta would listen to you.» Caecilia swore she could hear a hint of annoyance in his voice when he said the name of the emperor. «But I would continue to think.»

Lucius was about to say something else, when a sudden pain in the hip forced him to stop. He placed a hand on that part of his body, closing his eyes for a moment.

«Does it hurt?» Caecilia asked, placing a hand on his hips. Lucius quickly looked at her the moment he felt the gentle touch of her hand.
«It's nothing.»

«Oh, I forgot. You are a gladiator.» Caecilia replied, teasing him. Lucius smiled, amused by her words. After he left Rome, he had grown up hiding his pain. So he was not used to show himself so vulnareble like he was that moment.

Lucius was about to make fun of her, when he noticed something different in Caecilia. After her words, her smile quickly disappered from her face.

«What happened?» he asked her, frowning. Something was getting wrong in her life but he didn't know what. Since he had arrived in Rome, in fact, he had been forced to stay in a cold cage.

He could only get out to fight in the Colosseum, so he dind't know what happenend in the streets of Rome. «Nothing.»

But Lucius was not satisfied with that answer. He knew that the girl sitting next to him was lying. And he wanted to find out what was tormenting her.

For this reason, he places a finger on her chin and forced her to look at him. «I can read your eyes, Caecilia. Something had happened.» he told her, trying to convince her to tell him the truth.

Caecilia knew she was trapped. For some strange and unknown reason, Lucius had understood her. So she decided not to hide the truth from him. She took a moment, closing her eyes and sighing. And then... «Geta kissed me.»

A few seconds of silence reigned in the cage. No one could hear her, no one except Lucius. The man was almost petrified at hearing those words coming out of Caecilia's mouth. «He did what?»

«He kissed me.» Caecilia said again, more quietly this time. Saying out loud what had happened hours before seemed to have helped her. For this reason, she decided to tell a little more. «And he asked me to marry him.»

That information annoyed Lucius more than before. And Caecilia noticed that, especially the way he wrinkled. «You don't love him, so you won't accept his proposal. So what's the problem?»

«I can't refuse him.» Caecilia said, looking away. She couldn't look at Lucius for a second longer, especially without telling him the truth.
«He might feel bad at first, but then...»

«You don't understand.» Caecilia cut him off, her tone was a little more annoyed than she expected. She was not angry with the gladiator in front of her, but she couldn't tell him the truth. She couldn't explain him the real reason.

«So help me to understand.» Lucius whispered, getting closer to her and taking her hand in his. Caecilia looked back at him, losing in his deep blue eyes.

She was so torn, because she couldn't reveal her father's plan to the man who wanted to kill him. But Lucius probably was the only one who could help them. «He gave me time to think.»

«You can't marry him.» Lucius kept pushing, trying to convince her to do the right thing. But he couldn't choose for her. Caecilia had her own life, and she was free to do what she wanted to.

«Why do you care?»
Lucius was about to reply, opening his mouth. But no word came out of it. Because Caecilia was right. He had no reason to care about whether or not she would marry Geta.

«Because you don't deserve him. You don't deserve an arranged marriage. Your father should stop it.» he just said, trying to find the right words. But, withouth knowing it, he was making things worse. Because he didn't know who Caecilia's father was.

Caecilia suddenly pulled away from Lucius. She couldn't risk anymore. Maybe she should leave him, never see him again. She couldn't put her father in danger. «I have to go.»

But Lucius didn't want let her go. He couldn't, actually, not until he understood what she was hiding from him. There was something she didn't want to tell him, and Lucius knew he was in on. «Wait.»

Caecilia stopped the moment she felt Lucius'
hand grab her wrist, and started to look at him. She waited for Lucius to say something he didn't tell. Because he couldn't find the right words.

And the reason why he acted that way was not because he didn't have the courage, but something more... unexpected.

The moment he grabbed her wrist, Caceilia's body eneded up so close with his. He could feel her free hand placing on his chest, and her breath on his face. They were only inches apart, so close that their lips were almost touching.

Neither of them left. Neither of them expected to like that closeness. It was... weird. And they both understood that maybe they felt something news for each other. It wasn't love - it was still to soon to call it - , but it was still something.

They were bound, but they didn't know yet. And the moment Lucius placed his lips on hers, they both became aware of it. It was like they were meant to be. Here. At that kiss.

Caecilia still had her hand on Lucius' chest. She clung to him almost if she needed him to think about something else. And it seemed to work, because she lost herself in Lucius' arms. She lost herself in that kiss.

The gladiator held her tightly, almost as if he was afraid she could escape at any moment. But running away was the last thing Caecilia wanted to do at that moment. She felt so comfortable in his arms.

Kissing Geta and kissing Lucius on the same day was the last thing she expected, but she couldn't deny she felt something... both times. Different things and different kisses, but she had the same thought. What was she doing?

«If someone watches us...» Caecilia tried to moved away from Lucius, remembering that they were in a cage but anyone could see them and informe the emperors.

«I'm not afraid of Geta, you should know that.» Lucius reminder her, placing a hand on her cheek. He didn't speak for a while, trying to regulate his breathing. «Stay away from him.» he then said, looking worried for her fate.
«I can't.»

«Do you like him?» Lucius asked her, his tone was a little annoyed compared to the moment before. He seemed to be... jealous. But he couldn't be jealous of a girl who he hadn't known yet very well. Right?

«I already told you. I can't refuse him, at least not now.» Caecilia replied, trying to push herself further away from Lucius. But the gladiator had no intention to let her go. He wanted to know.
«Why?»

Caecilia would have told him, because that had been part of the plan from the first time she saw him fighting Vicen. Caecilia had seen something in Lucius and decided to convince him to join her father's plan.

But that was until she knew what he really wanted. Her father wouldn't die because of her. So she had to find another way to save Rome. Lucius was no longer an option.

«He won't hurt me, don't worry. I'll be fine.»

≫ ──── ≪ • ◦ ❈ ◦ • ≫ ──── ≪

Caecilia left him alone for an hour, but Lucius was still thinking about her. That kiss... he could still feel the touch of her lips on his. He would hardly forget that taste.

He had acted on instinct. He had trusted. He had felt the need to kiss her, and so he did. No thinking, no hesitation.

«I saw Caecilia left the Colosseum before.» Macrinus interrupted Lucius' thoughts, after entering his cage, forcing the gladiator to look up at him. «What did she want from you?»

«Why do you think she came here for me?» Lucius answered with another question, without giving Macrinus a real answer. «She is a Ravi's friend. She came here for him, not for me.»

Macrinus smiled, shaking his head slightly. His gladiator was not a good liar. «You know... Acacius doesn't want her to come here for Ravi. He hates him.» Macrinus informed Lucius, catching his attention just as he expected.

«Acacius? What does he have to do with...» Lucius paused the moment he finally connected all the pieces of the puzzle. Caecilia was not he thought she was.

She was Acacius' daughter. She was the daughter of his enemy, of that Roman General who had taken everything away from him. And he kissed her. How could he have been such an idiot?

«Didn't you know it?» Macrinus asked him, after a while. His tone was surprised, but he was pretending. Because that was just part of his plan. After all, he had always known who Caecilia was, but he had never told him.

He needed that Lucius and Caecilia fall in love with each other before he could tell Lucius the truth. That way, Macrinus would have what he had always wanted. Rome.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I told you that a lot of things would happen in this chapter. So... I want to know what do you think!

I divided the chapter in four part in my mind: Acacius and Caecilia's sweet like father-daughter moment; Geta proposal AND KISS; Lucius feelings AND KISS; the beginning of Macrinus plan.

I have to confess that the two kisses are my favourite moment of that chapter but now I want to know what your favourite moments are.

And I asked you something because I am such a curious girl... do you prefer Caecilia with Geta or Lucius?

I also wanted to add a little moment between Caecilia and Dondus because I love that mokey, so I couldn't help but include a little bit of her.

What response will Caecilia give to Geta? And how will Lucius behave the next time he see her?