And...moving on. XD
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The clink of metal on wood was familiar and reassuring as Caesar took advantage of the morning sun to practice his swordsmanship. It wasn't even practice really, just a distraction from his restless night. He'd had nightmares, strange dreams of shadowy figures that shouted at him, stabbed at him over and over again. Caesar pushed the unsettling thoughts from his mind, focused on the target, envisioned that it was Pompey that stood before him...and promptly lopped off a fair chunk of the wooden target. He smiled grimly as he finally allowed himself to pause. Perhaps someday it really would be Pompey's head he took.

"My love, come inside and rest! I have not had my fill of your company!" Calpurnia, tempting in a loose and casual dress, pouted and beckoned him.

Caesar paused a moment before he grinned and sheathed his sword. "And I have not had my fill of you, my lady." he said, as he waggled his brows and made his way towards her. When he caught her, he gave a little growl at her throat as he kissed her and slid his hands down her sides. Her breath hitched excitedly as her hands slid up his slick chest and their lips met.

Several languid hours later, Caesar again returned to his balcony to overlook the city and think. He had told Marcus that they would speak again this day, but rest had served him well. He had needed a moment's peace more than he'd realized, and his wife's welcoming company besides. His daughter Julia was staying with her grandmother, and it afford plenty of opportunity to roam unimpeded in the household. Not that her presence would really have stopped him.

"Disgusting..."

Caesar whirled around to face the intruder he was certain was there, for he'd heard a whisper nearly clear as day. But when he looked, there was no one to be found. He had had rest, disturbed though it was, he'd taken pleasure with his wife and was well sated on food and wine. So why was he disturbed by visions in the day as well?

Why did the voice sound so damnably familiar?

His mood soured, Caesar revised his plans for the day. Rest and relaxation could wait, he would seek audience with Marcus Crassus after all.

...

Or so he'd thought.

"What do you mean, he cannot see me? What more pressing matters possess his time?" Caesar hissed at the slave who relayed the message.

The slave merely bowed and spoke nervously. "He attends to business, and asks that you return another day-"

"I am not a child to be turned away at the gate!"

"And yet, as always, you behave as one."

Caesar turned to face Marcus' wife, and he adopted a mirthless smile. "A pleasure as always, Lady Crassus."

"Whose?" she retorted, before she admitted. "Marcus is unwell this day, he's been fighting fever for days now. He made effort to stay risen this morning in anticipation of your arrival...and yet you never arrived. Do not lay blame on him for your tardiness."

Caesar stared hard at her a moment and gauged that she was being honest. Damn. "Unfortunate...it seems I must take my leave then. I will return when he is well."

It was then that Tiberius' younger brother Publius came running into the hall, and he stopped short as he saw Caesar. His lips curved into a troubled frown before he turned heel and ran the other direction.

Caesar lifted a brow. "Does my appearance call for such fright?"

Tertulla watched her son flee and then regarded Caesar tartly. "He knows who was present at his brother's murder. It was that b**** Kore who wielded dagger, but you failed to protect him. "

Caesar stared in disbelief before he scoffed. "You give me great credit. You must think me a seer, able to predict the actions of errant slaves and act accordingly. A slave who would not have acted, were she not forced to purpose by unwanted touch of poor master." He felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise, but his attention was drawn by the sudden slap to the face he received.

Tertulla glared and said with no small venom. "My son would not have had to force himself on that whore. She was always willing enough."

"With the man she loved. Not the boy she coddled to her breast." Caesar retorted, and this time when she attempted to strike him, he caught her by the wrist.

A sudden wave of cold, sharp pain slipped through his hand and he released her hand as if burned and took a step back. He stared, stunned, but from Tertulla's expression whatever had caused his pain was not inflicted on her.

And then he saw it, clearly behind Tertulla. A face twisted with anger and a sharp gaze directed right at Caesar, belonging to the one who had slapped his hand away. "Tiberius."

Tertulla's brow furrowed and she glanced behind her, following Caesar's gaze, but she saw nothing and turned back with a sneer. "Leave, Caesar. You are not welcome here this day." she fought to keep her composure against Caesar's apparent mockery of her grief.

Caesar swallowed hard, and watched as Tiberius' expression of anger became one of confusion before he flickered out completely. He gave a short nod of his head, shaken, and turned without a word to leave. Caesar fairly stumbled into the door on his way out. He had seen it, although the figure was nearly transparent, he had clearly seen Tiberius Crassus. And what's more, it was with gestures and actions that responded to the present, he had slapped Caesar's hand away. This was not a haunting memory, this was...this was...impossible. And yet it had happened.

He looked to his hand then, and stopped mid-step as he found that his hand was red as though he truly had been slapped. Surely he was not going mad. Was he? "Show yourself!" he called out suddenly. "Whatever trick you play...it ends now. Show yourself!" he hissed again as he whirled around. Let the apparition appear, mad or not, let him confront it and end it.

But no one appeared, no answer was given, and Caesar stood in silence a long moment.

Finally he took his leave. He would drink wine such as he had not in ages, until a stupor took him and carried him into restful slumber. Caesar did not like to drink so carelessly, but there was no choice, not when he seemed to be going mad...

...

Caesar hiccuped and wiped his mouth on his sleeve as he polished off another goblet of wine. He'd lost count of his cups and washed it down only with a few succulent grapes. And as he'd hoped, a sweet, numb oblivion had come over him. It was hard to succumb to madness when one was in such a state, after all. He wasn't one to become drunk easily, but with enough wine, any man could find their brief peace. Caesar settled back in his seat and inhaled heavily as he considered calling a slave girl to sate his...darker pleasures. Those that he would not have his beautiful wife dirty herself with.

"The great Caesar. Nothing more than a drunken slob." A voice said snarkily.

Caesar jerked and even drunkeness couldn't quell his survival instincts. He reached for the dagger on the table near him and aimed it forwards, before his eyes widened at the unfocused sight before him. "Ti..Tiberius." The name came out sluggish on his tongue and he shook his head as he narrowed his eyes on the figure before him. Even drink couldn't banish him, it seemed. He was worse than before.

The specter paused and then sneered as he took a few steps closer to glare down at Caesar. "Yes. Tiberius. So you can finally see me? You must have drunk well from your cups." he spat.

Caesar tried to clear his mind, but his head was spinning. This could not be real. "This must be a dream..." he muttered.

"It is no f***ing dream!" Tiberius snarled as he slammed his fist into Caesar's face, or rather, through it. Caesar felt fierce chill on his cheek and his eyes widened before he rose and took a slightly stumbling step backwards. He put the chair between himself and Tiberius, and held the dagger aloft. Tiberius' sneer intensified. "That dagger will do you no good. Have you forgotten already? I have already greeted death from blade. No thanks to you!"

This...this cannot be real...I must focus...banish this dream from my mind...I am Gaius Julius Caesar...I am not mad...wake up! Caesar closed his eyes tightly and then opened them in expectation of waking from his dream, but he was greeted only by the sight of the disdainful Tiberius before him. "What are you?" he croaked.

Tiberius' sneer became a scowl. "I am dead. Take guess at what I am, what you made of me."

"It...was Kore that killed you." Caesar said slowly. Lucidity did not wish to return to his mind, and he could not wake up. Was he awake then, or dreaming? Was he haunted, or mad?

"And you who failed to stop her!" Tiberius hissed.

Caesar stared at him and shook his head as he took a few more steps back. "This is madness. This is a dream. I will hear no more of this..." he muttered to himself as he rubbed his eyes.

Tiberius gave a scornful laugh. "This is no dream, and surely it is madness. But even so, I am truly here."

Caesar shook his head. "Why...what...do you want?"

"Do you think I asked to be here? How should I know why the Gods choose to punish me so?"

"Then go be trapped elsewhere, I have no wish to deal with the likes of you." Caesar growled, a budding headache beginning. Despite what the specter claimed, he was certain that it was a dream. Because this simply could not be happening.

The look of fury that flashed on Tiberius' face seemed genuine enough though, and he got close as he made a motion of crushing Caesar's throat. "Would that I could." And whether he meant in being trapped elsewhere, or strangling Caesar was unclear. "Whenever I make attempt to leave, I appear beside you again. And you cannot see or hear me, not until now." he noted, although he did not know why it was different now.

"Why would...the Gods place you with me?"

"Perhaps you should ask them. Do all a favor and die, and then you shall have your chance." Tiberius replied.

Caesar stared at him another moment before he shook his head and stumbled to the bed behind him. "I will wake, and this madness will end. This dream will be over."

"Don't you dare sleep now! Get up, you bastard!" Tiberius seethed, he gazed down at Caesar with an expression rife with fury and hatred. He swiped at Caesar, but that was all he could do as the other settled in and went unaffected by Tiberius' swipe save for a shiver.

"Just need...sleep..." Caesar murmured as he allowed his eyes to close, certain that when he woke, this would all be an unpleasant dream. With that in mind, he surrendered himself to sleep.

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I started this, and then had work the next day, and now I literally can't keep my eyes open. But, sleepy writing though it was...Caesar has officially seen Tiberius. Even though he's not quite sober enough to realize it. And Tiberius is quite ticked. XD And now it's time for my sleep too. XD Reviews are like verbal hugs and much appreciated. XD Enjoy~ Witchy~