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Chapter 2

It was Janurary 9 and the Empire was getting ready for the celebration of Agonalia, in honor of the god Janus. It was going to be a big party. Even Jed, Sam and Octavia, who was now 7 months along, were going to be attending with Octavius.. Cassius thought this would be his moment to get Octavia.

"Octavius will never know what hit him," Cassius said to himself.

Cassius pulled the vile from his coat and smiled at himself that evil smile.

Octavius was with some friend comrades talking. Carefully Cassius poured the the vile's liquid inside. Once the liquid disolved the wine in the cup looked normal.

Walking over where he stood, "Octavius," he said with a smile.

"Cassius," Octavius replied, taking the cup that Cassius was handing him. "Why thank you Cassius," with that he drank it all not tasting the venom.

"Well, goodbye Octavius," Cassius said as he rushed off hiding. While Sam, Octavia, and Jed joined him.

"Hey Octavius," Jed said..

"Hello," Octavius said, "how are you feeling tonight Octavia?"

"Okay. I only wish this baby would stop kicking," Octavia said.

The group laughed. All of a sudden, Octavius felt like he was going to be sick. He dropped his glass and ran behind a buliding.

"Hey Octavius!" Jed yelled..

Jed ran after him. He made it there just in time to see Octavius get sick. There was blood in the mix.

"Octavius are you alright?" Jed asked concerned.

Octavius didn't have time to answer. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell to the floor. Jed rushed by him.

"Someone help!" He yelled over the party.

Octavius was laying in his bed in his house in the Roman Empire. The doctor inside with Octavius, while Jed, Sam, and Octavia sat outside.

Turning to Sam, "What do you think is wrong with him?" Octavia asked worriedly...

"I'm sure it's nothing," Sam said. "I bet the wine was just old or something."

Then the doctor came out confusion written all over his face. The three hurried over to him.

"What's going on?" Jedidiah asked.

All the doctor could do was shake his head, "Well, to tell you the truth. I have no idea what so ever."

Octavia got light headed and began to shake slightly holding back tears. She knew something really horrible was happening to him, what it was she did not know, "Y-y-you know...nothing."

"Unfortualy no," said the doctor, "all i can tell you, is that he is running a fever, breathing heavily, and coughing badly."

"Will he be alright?" Jed asked.

"I don't know. I gave him some antibiotics and I will leave some here," the doctor said, "make sure he gets them every two hours. If his condition worsens, come and get me right away."

"Thank you doctor," Octavia said.

the doctor left.

Turning to her husband and father-in-law, "What should we do now?"

"What the doctor said I guess," Jed sighed sticking his hands in his pockets.

Scratching his head, "What about the army though?" Sam asked.

Octavia looked at the door, "My father is not going to want anyone else to watch the army, but himself.."

"Well we know Octavius can't, how 'bout that Cassius guy...he seems to know alot about the army."

Before any one of them could reply, they heard Octavius coughing, and came in.

They all rushed by Octavius' side.

"Father are you alright?" Octavia asked.

"Octavia...is that you?" he asked weakly.

"Yes it is father. Sam and Jedadiah are here with me," Octavia said.

"How do you feel Octavius?" Jed asked.

"Awful," Octavius said weakly.

"W-wha-what happened" Octavius mumbled.

The three looked at each, "Well Octavius you kinda threw up...blood and vomit.. Then we brought you here, and the doctor came and he said he didn't know what was the matter with you."

Octavius barely understood none the less. "He dosen't know?"

"No he doesn't," Sam said.

"Will.. I...be..alright?" Octavius asked.

"He doesn't know," Jed said.

"Octavia go to Aquilo and tell him he is in charge of the Army for now," Octavius said.

"Yes father," Octavia said with tears streaming down her face.

"Octavia. I want you to know I love you and always will. Don't ever forget that," Octavius said. With that, he passed out.

Octavia started crying. Jed and Sam having tears of their own.

The doctor was now here the second time, he was unable to wake Octavius.. Though the Roman general was still living that was for sure. Sam took Octavia back to their home in the Frontier, for how bad she was crying. Jed stayed trying to think of what might be the matter. Jed sat there watching Octavius sleep.

"Octavius please wake up. Octavia is a wreak with you being like this. So am I. I just felt like if could have gotten there earlier I could have seen if something was wrong. Please, brother, wake up," Jedadiah said taking Octavius' hand and grasping it blinking back the tears.

The front door opened it was Sam. "How is he?" Sam asked worriedly, sitting down next to fis father.

Shaking his head, "Not good Sam, not good at all. Where is Octavia?"

"She's home, she cried herself to sleep.. This is hurting Octavia alot Pa. What could have caused this?"

All Jed could do was shake his head, "I don't know, I mean he was fine before. Then a few minutes after...after he drank that wine Cassius gave him, he got sick." This struck Jed as odd, "I-I wonder..."

"What is it Pa?" Sam asked.

"I wonder if Cassius poisoned that wine he gave Octavius," Jedadiah said.

"You think he did?" Sam asked..

"Well, wasn't he mad after Octavia married you and not his son?" Jed asked.

"Yeah," Sam said.

"I'm gonna go check something out. Stay with Octavius," Jed said.

Sam watched as Jedadiah left the tent.

Jed searched for awhile, but soon found the man he was looking for. Cassius.

"Hey! Cassius!" Jed called. But Cassius did not stopped, but continued walking on.

When Jed caught up, and grabbed Cassius arm, he was punched right in the cheek.

Jed was dazed by the punch that he didn't have time to stop the one that came to his gut. He fell to his knees gasping for air. Cassius took this moment to grab Jed and take him behind a building.

"What are you doing?" Jed asked.

"What's it look like? I am getting revenge. Octavia should have married my son. Not some barbarian like you," Cassius said.

Jed took a swing, but Cassius ducked it. Cassius took this oppurtiontiy to punch Jed against the wall. Jed fell to the ground, knocked out.

Quickly Cassius dragged Jed's limp body up to his home, finding a rope he tied up Jed. Then tied up the passed out cowboy again, but to the table leg. "There..." Cassius sighed, "that should keep you."

Meanwhile at Octavius home, Sam waited it had been awhile. Where could his Pa be?

The doctor came out of the room, "Do you know anything now?" Sam asked impatiently.

Shaking his head, "Not a thing, but I have some medicine that may help. It won't be gone, but will slow it down. Looking around, "Where's your Pa?"

Sticking his hands in his pockets, "I don't know," he said worriedly. Sighing, "With his luck he has someone in the sleeper hole..." Thinking a moment on what he said, quickly he opened the door, and put his hat on his head, "Could you watch Octavius. I need to go find my Pa."

It had been a week, no one has seen Jed.

"Oh Octavia I am so worried. No one has seen him in a week. For all we know he could be dead or hurt," Sam said.

"Sam don't talk like that. I'm sure he's fine. We will find him," Octavia said.

"I hope your right," Sam said.

"Of course I am," Octavia said.

Suddenly the door swung open. Revealing Cassius with a dagger in hand.

"Cassius!" Octavia eclaimed, "What on Earth are you doing!?"

Grinning evilly, "Getting reveange."