I do not own any of the characters or basic story material, all rights belong to Stephanie

Well gang, I've gotten off my lazy bum and done a bit of writing. The lack of updates are due to some serious bouts of creative drought. So, to remedy this, I followed another writer's advice and started in on another story. To my surprise, the blockage in my brain cleared and all was revealed. However, this means that I'll be splitting my time between two stories right now, working on one while the other is stewing. It should help me to post new chapters a bit faster, which is good news considering the ever-increasing lengths of time between updates. The next few weeks will be sketchy at best though, I've got to move into gear for college. So I'll beg your patience and update as I am able. Now then, onward with the story.

The Taste of Ashes: Sins of the Mother

It was a peculiar feeling, that knife held so tightly against my throat. Cold and clean, but almost hot as it kept its bite on my neck, my jugular beating in time to my captor's raspy breathing. Some primal instinct told me to fight, to claw and tear and shred, anything to save my life. But I was no primal animal, and I had not the sense to fight. How could I? With a dagger at my unblemished neck?

What was all the more surprising was the look on Philo's face. It was not surprise or fear, but undiluted hatred. It was spread across his aging visage like an acid, eating its way into his eyes. I'd never seen that look in Philo's eyes. It made me shiver in fear.

Philo's arms fell flat against his sides, but his hands curled into claws, his wiry body knotting into a fighter's stance. "Release my daughter, what ever orders you were given, turn against them. I'll make your life thrice as miserable as any he'll give you for subordination." The dagger at my throat only increased its hold, the blade nipping and almost nicking a vein. Colors danced around me, dusky light, shadows, the muted white of Philo's robes….My hands clutched at my captor's arms, trying unsuccessfully to disarm him.

"If you're wise, little sister, you'll stop thrashing about. We're being watched by eyes that see more than mere action." I stopped at the voice's command. Philo's eyes lost their taint, and turned to ice. But never did my captor release his hold on the blade. My captor….I ran over what he'd just said in my mind…little sister.

"Volusus." Philo and I gasped at once. A hard but controlled chuckle ran through the air. Volusus stepped sideways, dragging me with him into the shadows, Philo followed close behind.

Once we were enveloped in the dark light of the brewery, I felt the cold bite leave my neck and the gentle fwoosh of a cape being dropped. I was released to Philo and we stood together, staring at my half-brother in a most peculiar way. He snorted at our expressions and gestured for us to sit on the floor, flipping his own body on a cask of wine, dark hair sweeping over his face and eyes ablaze with emotion.

"You two really think I'm an idiot, don't you?" Volusus's voice was harsh against the stone walls, and it carried a very bitter ring. Philo gave him a hard look and clutched me closer to his side.

"Not an idiot, merely blind, Volusus. Although it would appear you've gained sight in the recent hours." Philo stated simply. Volusus ran a hand through his thick locks and sighed deeply. The dagger dropping with a loud clang against the floor.

"I've known for days Deros, as has my father. He knew it was her almost the moment he laid eyes on her. My mother lives through her very skin, only a fool could miss it." He glanced toward me, his eyes roaming over my body in a quick assessment. I lit my hair form a curtain against his gaze. His look made me feel bare as a babe. Philo grunted and heaved himself up, moving towards Volusus to clasp him on the shoulder. Volusus flinched at the touch. As he did do, I felt a small well of pity for him form in my stomach. Here was a man who hardly knew a kind gesture.

Philo did not release him, but rather used the shoulder to take a seat beside Volusus. "I should have known Lupus would see Viola in her. The Cullens made a very dire mistake by bringing her here."

Volusus nodded in agreement. "You've no idea how long he's wanted to have her head adorn his bedroom. It's all I used to hear as a child, once he murdered my mother…" My brother threw a look my way, causing me to drop my gaze. "He loathes you, you know, you are a physical representation of his downfall. And those eyes of yours only drive the stake in deeper. They're your father's eyes."

"Why are you here Volusus? To carry out your father's plan for innocent blood? Or are you still in the same state of jealousy I left you in?" Philo's voice was unnaturally calm, like he was talking to a rabid dog about to maul a small child. I lifted my head to judge Volusus's expression. I found only a void there.

"You give me little credit, as always Master. Yes, I was a jealous child, jealous that you," he pointed to me with a crooked finger, "had our mother's love while I did not. It ate away at me for many years. And I will not lie that I once wanted you dead." I felt my heart begin to harden against this man, my brother. Had not our mother risked her life to keep in contact with him?

Volusus read my expression with speed and left his place on the cask to join me on the floor, he lifted my chin to meet him and curled a hand around my cold one. I remained still as I could. " But once I'd heard that our mother was killed by Lupus's hand, and that you had been sold into slavery, I wanted only to find you, to meet you. I wanted a sibling with me, to share my pain, and to rid me of my father's hold." Volusus said softly. " I spent years tracking you through the slave market, and always you were out of reach. And in those years I became tossed into Lupus's greed and need. I started to become him, even more so when Merga and Merula were born. Corda forbade me form searching for you, she said your fate was a lucky one…but I was never able to really believe her…I only wanted to see some of my mother again." His voice was husky with unshed tears, and I felt the pity swell into something else. Forgiveness. Here was my brother, who had suffered just as much as I had, for the sins of his father. And, perhaps, for the sins of our mother. Through her want to love us both and my father, she risked us all…and I wasn't sure I could forgive that so easily. Time would have to tell.

"We have both endured through so many trials…I remember wishing that I'd had a sibling with me. Yes, I had Philo to help guide me, but I so wanted someone my age there. We could have helped one another…too late now I suppose." A sad smile permeated through both my face and Philo's. Volusus also smiled ruefully at my statement.

"It is a shame we will never get to know one another. Forgive me for what I have to do, my sister." Philo's face dropped down in horror as Volusus snatched my waist and held me tight with his hands gripping my neck. I clawed at him, but time seemed to slow and blur…I saw the dark flash of Volusus's cape as he stood at his full height, I saw Philo roar with fury and race towards my dark sibling, I saw my own fear and pity mirrored in Volusus's ivy-green gaze….and then a slight pressure on my neck…and all was night.

…...

I'd had a rough life, a painful life, shouldn't death have been a relief from that? It seemed that every inch of me ached in a way I wasn't used to. And my head…. Surely the Greek God Zeus hadn't suffered such a headache even when Athena leapt out of his skull. I moaned in my suffering and was rewarded with the slight sensation of a wet cloth against my forehead.

"I think she's coming back to us."

"About time, I pulled that move on Merga once and it didn't take her this long to come 'round."

"Boy, didn't I tell you that violence has no rewards? You should have been more careful, Bella's been through more physical abuse in her life then you could ever imagine. Of course your little stunt knocked her out cold."

A small chuckle, a pleasant chuckle, my mother's type of chuckle, " Come on little sister, Deros has told me many stories of your temper…I want to see it firsthand. Your older brother tried to "kill" you, are you really going to take that lying down?"

I was not. I thought I'd passed into the next life and they were joking about it? Inexcusable. If my so called brother wanted to see my temper, I'd let him.

With a flash of muscle and luck, and bolted up and locked my fingers around Volusus's throat. My hold was strong and sure. I felt a small flicker of pleasure as I saw his eyes spring up with surprise. Philo only laughed along, his small body wracked with amusement.

"Ease up on your brother, my little Silvia, he looks a mite frightened." Glancing towards Volusus, with a stern look towards him, I let go. He scuttled backwards with a great amount of hurry. I only grinned.

A few moments later and I was tapping my foot in anger at the two of my relatives. I wanted answers, now. And so, with some spice to my voice, I asked for such.

"Forgive me, Bella, but we were being watched at the brewery. My father ordered your death at my hand, I had to at least make it look real…even if it meant enduring the wrath of Deros…" Volusus smiled lightly, but turned to me, his eyes grim.

"You are not safe here, not for much longer. The servant my father sent to watch your "death" will most likely have pieced together that it was faked. All I did was buy you some time, precious little time. But it should be enough to get you and the Cullens out of the Capitol safely." Volusus gathered his robes and walked towards Philo, a sword in his hand. Philo nodded, accepted the gift, and clasped Volusus's shoulder once more, a look of pride in his eye.

"You are not your father's son, you have become your own man. For that, I am proud to call you my student. You saved your mother's last hope, and your family's last innocent member. You'll be a fine ruler of Rome." Philo stepped back and ran a hand through his grizzled hair. Volusus might have tried to hide his tears, but we could both see them stream down his face.

I gathered my own soiled gown and walked towards my brother, even though I wasn't sure I completely understood why he'd risked his life for mine, I was grateful. So I let myself embrace my lost brother and kiss him lightly on the forehead. "Thank you, our Mother would have been proud, I only wish she could have seen the two of us together."

Volusus sighed and grasped my hand, his other one brushed the hair from my eyes. "I wish it could have been so as well, little sister. But at least I can live in peace now, knowing our mother still lives within the world. And knowing my family will continue on." He paused, a thoughtful look on his face, "You look so much like her, it's not fair I get to remember her, and you can only dream of her. She was not the kindest of women, but she was one of the greatest." With that said, we parted from our embrace and merely looked at one another. Trying to piece together a life where we could have known and grown up with one another. It was a lovely puzzle, but an impossible one.

"Come, time works against us, and we have yet to get you safely to the harbor. Once there, you and the Cullens will board the ship Isis and sail to the Northern lands. The journey, I'm told, is an easy one. Come, the cloak of night is upon us, and we must make use of it." Volusus and Philo walked briskly towards a hidden door, ushering me inside.

…...

Though the stars were not visible, I felt their eyes at my back. Fog moved in and out of my view, playing tag with my feet. Philo and Volusus had left me waiting by a small carriage while they went to fetch the Cullen family. They, I was relieved to hear, had been spared of Lupus's plan and had spent the day touring the Library. I believed I would have to keep this day a secret, for if Edward were to ever learn of my near-death, I did not know how he would fare….

Edward…I was shamed to admit that I'd nearly forgotten him. In the midst of all the excitement, I could not recall thinking about my future husband, or my future family. I would have to remedy that quickly. And now at last I was at least allowed to enjoy the possible future before. The slaves were freed, I was freed of my past and now able to indulge in thinking of the years spread before me. Once I joined Edward's family and their way of life…I was limitless in my possibilities. And of course I'd need a few millennia to love my husband….

"M'Lady, you're to get in the carriage now." A gruff voice shook me of my daydreams and brought me back to reality. The carriage master helped me aboard and gathered his thick cloak about him as he started the horses up. I thought it strange that he should need a cloak so thick on such a warm night…but perhaps he was merely old.

"What of my family? Are we to meet them somewhere?" My voice carried the right amount of haughtiness for a noblewoman. The blackened figure shrugged and responded in his gruff voice again.

"We're to meet them at the olive groves outside the city. That's all I was told M'Lady."

I sighed, but signaled for him to continue. The horses brayed at the feel of the whip across their backs and the carriage started down the road. Lights flickered from the Imperial Palace, but I felt no need to say goodbye. I was glad to be gone from the horrid place….I only wished I could as easily banish the memories.

The Capitol city blurred before me and soon the city gates flashed, the giant Eagles still seemed to glare menacingly at me…but that was their intended effect after all. At least this intruder was getting put alive. We continued on for some time, peasants with their carts of straw and cloth passed by us, mangy curs fought alongside the road for scraps…all was normal, and yet all was somewhat unnerving. A steady stream of unease coursed through me. The nature of the situation felt off…somehow.

The stream of unease blossomed into a river of panic once the carriage reached the olive groves…and then passed them. The crack of the oiled whip and the sound of the horses braying continued on into the night, and me along with them.

Juno help me.