I made a continuity error because Caesar has the ability to heal others and himself and in chapter 2 I still said he might have bruises, which he wouldn't since he would use his power to get rid of any


He only lied to his therapist once.

Well, this one. He'd had one before Dr. Greene who hadn't been a demigod. He'd lied the pants off of that guy and soon he'd been switched into a therapist who he could trust. And it was the first person he'd ever trusted. It was amazing, really... Having trust.

Perhaps he'd lose that trust, if the therapist knew that he'd been lied to.

It was the decaf. He couldn't stay on it. It was awful. Now he had switched back to caffeine. Sweet, glorious caffeine. His nervous energy was back, and so he went for a run with Glaceon and then a swim in the Complex's pool before heading to work.

He had a small office job where he sold products over the phone. He'd always been persuasive, a trait he learned from his mother who rarely had people say no to her. He had though. She'd just begged for mercy when the knife was at her throat. No then, but now he was a yes man. Saying yes to each customer as he made sales effortlessly. Making them think they were the ones calling the shots. The ones winning. But they weren't. It was so easy. Too easy. Making people trust him. Making them think he had their best interests in mind when he never had. This was all for profit. An end to the means. That's what it had been before hadn't it? An end to the means. Killing for peace. Ironic perhaps. But there it was. He certainly felt at peace. For the most part, except... His leg bounced up and down. Nervous energy, should have stuck to decaf, nasty muck.

But there it was. He was happy, wasn't he. There was peace now. He was on lunch break, why shouldn't he be? He sold more than anyone else had. He decided to go home and check on Glaceon, as he had many times. But he had barely stood up and grabbed his keys when a man in uniform walked up to him. It was just a security guard, Joseph, if he recalled.

"Hello, what seems to be the problem?" He asked, without a twitch of his nervous energy. He was perfectly calm. Perfectly persuasive.

"Mr. Alexander, I don't mean to cause a disruption, but...There are detectives outside who would like to talk to you. I'm sorry."

"It's not trouble Joseph, really. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding." The security guard nodded without removing his hand from his night stick. He thought that Octavian would actually put up a fight. As if. His cold persuasion didn't need any physical struggle to help him out. He could talk himself out of any situation, and he really didn't want to hurt poor, nervous Joseph.

He stepped outside, remaining calm. It was a nice day, really, a beautiful day. There was a breeze that played with his shaggy blond hair. He'd been meaning to get that cut into something more professional. Something more... Roman.

That was when a small part of his facade cracked, and he let out a small snort. Roman. When was the last time he'd worried about seeming Roman? Looking, acting, being Roman. Those monsters were a part of his past. A part he'd let go of completely when he'd left Sacremento behind.

"Mr. Octavian Alexander, is it?"

"I go by Octavian if you will." He said calmly.

"Did you just laugh?"

"Oh yes, I was just thinking that this was a lovely day, and it is a shame that my lunch break will be spent talking to you."

"This isn't really a joking matter Mr. Alexander."

"Octavian, I'm begging you." He said, not begging at all.

"Mr. Alexander is my father." He was careful with those words, intelligent.

"Was your father." The detective said, perhaps not so intelligent, admitting right away that they whole thing dealt with murder.

"What happened to my father?" Octavian asked, still not letting go of his feigned innocence. The detective momentarily bit his lip.

"Your father and mother were recently murdered in their home in Sacramento. And you recently went to Sacramento. Now if you'll get into the vehicle we'll take you to a place where you can explain why those events aren't related."

"Of course. Happy to oblige." He got into the back of their car quietly, folding his hands in his lap. His thoughts were collected, for the most part, only concerned about Glaceon, for he had no one else to worry about, and the only give away that he was worried at all was the bounce of his leg in the backseat.

"Nervous, Mr. Alexander?"

"I feel my rights should be respected enough to allow a silent car trip." He responded with ease. Had he worn glasses, he would have pushed them up on his nose in utter satisfaction. Somewhat of a pity that he did not wear glasses. The rest of the ride was in silence as requested.

"You were in Sacramento the other evening were you not?"

"Can you specify the evening?" The evening was specified.

"I was in California yes."

"For a very, very short time. What did you do in California? Visit family? Visit Disney World?"

"Disney land."

"You visited Disney land?"

"Oh no, I couldn't afford that. But Disney World is in Florida, Disney Land is in California. I would love to visit both, they're on my to-do list, however, unfortunately, I was not at either." He had a beautiful air of pretension that he was milking for all it was worth.

"Mr. Alexander, stick to the subject at hand, what were you doing in California?"

"Not visiting Disney world." He muttered bitterly.

"Mr. Alexander!"

"Didn't I ask to be called Octavian?"

"Request denied."

"Do I get a phone call?"

"Do you have anyone to call?"

"Not at the moment no, since I doubt my dog would pick up, but perhaps later."

"What were you doing in California?"

"Visiting California, clearly. I used to live there."

"That's another thing..." The detective trailed off.

"Never mind, we'll deal with that later. Did you visit your parents while you were in Sacramento?"

"I never said I was in Sacramento. You said that I was, but I never agreed."

"Then why did you leave California so quickly, Mr. Alexander?"

"Octavian. And I left because I have a dog at home who I forgot to make arrangements for. Besides, California is hot."

"Did you consider visiting your parents and brother while in California?" The detective asked. That's when Octavian faltered. Brother? He thought he'd been so ready to take on everything the murders entailed. But brother?

"I didn't really consider it no."

"Perhaps it was premeditated then."

"Obviously nothing was premeditated, as I forgot to make arrangements for Glaceon."

"Glaceon?"

"My dog. He's lovely."

"Isn't that a pokemon?"

"Yes, is this important?"

"No. Sorry." Inwardly, Octavian was grinning. He had made the detective apologize. He was winning.

"You went off the grid for several year Octavian." And he had gotten the man to call him Octavian! He had basically won.

"From the age four to now, just gone. Where were you Octavian?" Octavian didn't answer.

He couldn't.

He was trapped.

"Perhaps you were preparing yourself for the day you would murder your parents." He looked down at his leg, which bounced nervously, and with great regret about not staying with decaf, he murmured in defeat,

"Perhaps I was."

He had known that he would only win until he lost.

And he'd known from the beginning that in the end, he would lose.