Amneris had expected something like this to happen. It wasn't that big of a deal. She could always go back and break in later. Preferably when the Roman boy wasn't beside her. He was a flaw in her plans. Though, at the rate he was leaving her on her own, she figured the only way to communicate with whoever the hell the current Emperor was would be through dreams.

What a drag.

So, instead of returning to Leonidas' home, she made them wander the fields on the outskirts of the city. She had no idea why, but being locked up in that damned house . . . Anything was better than that. So, together, they walked. He didn't try to make conversation with her which was a relief. At least, not until he stopped suddenly. Amneris had walked a meter further before realizing the boy had stopped and was looking at the clouds. Storm clouds, to be precise.

He was frowning at them. At the small flares of light - lightning - coming from them. "Jupiter is angry today," he said casually.

Amneris snorted. "Please. The Gods aren't real."

A bolt of lightning came towards her from the clouds. She rolled to the side, finding the patch of Earth she had been standing on was now scorched.

"Fuck you, Jupiter!" she yelled to the clouds.

Another bolt of lightning. She jumped out of its path.

"Oh, that's real mature!" she yelled again. "What are you gonna do next? Make it rain?"

That was precisely what happened.

No sooner than the words had come from her mouth, a massive downpour of rain had her soaked. Amneris glared at the clouds. "I will come up there and hand your ass to you!"

Leonidas was watching in amazement. "The Gods aren't real, eh?"

"Ah, fuck off."

"You just proved they are!" he exclaimed. "Did no one else see that?" Leonidas spun expectantly, as though waiting for someone to show up and agree. 

Amneris said, "We're the only ones out here."

He slumped in disappointment.

She sighed, walked over to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You'll meet them one day. When you're dead."

"You are not a comforting woman. You know that?"

"Yep."

Since her mission had clearly failed on the in person aspect, Amneris figured she would be going home soon. Probably tomorrow, if not the day after. She just needed to go back to the Inu household to collect her things. Still, she didn't want to go back right now. So, she continued to walk, the boy at her side. Amneris, surprising even herself, extended a shield over their heads to keep out the rain as they walked. 

"Thank you," he said.

She shrugged it off.

A rumble of thunder made her look up. Either the weather was trying to kill them - or at least planning to do so - or Jupiter really was pissed about something. Amneris sighed. One could never tell when it came to Gods. An earthquake could lead to mass sacrifices or be an approval of war. The Gods made no move to clarify. Not that she was any better. 

Leonidas was frowning at the sky again. "What is it?" she asked.

"Nothing," he said distantly. 

"Whatever that nothing is, it's sure got your attention."

He looked down at her, then up at the sky, then back down again. "Either my sanity is becoming as bad as yours -"

"Hey!"

"- Or the light in the clouds is turning red."

"What?" Red lightning? That didn't happen on any Earth.

Amneris followed her companion's gaze. The lightning was indeed turning red. The colour became clearer with each strike. It was familiar but she couldn't quite place it. Where had she seen it before?

It came to her.

The answer was far from good.