Mars
Chapter 6: I Promise
The space next to her was vacant and the air smelled of blood and roses. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, wondering what she would do now she had nobody who could command or advise her. She paused for a few moments and slid out of bed in order to make a promising start to the day that would hopefully be a busy one. A toga lay draped across a chair in the corner and it bore her name, obviously intended for her, but it was red - the colour of the gods, she could not wear it, could she? If she didn't Commodus would not be happy but if she did the senators wouldn't, but as the senators had no real power as he was heir, she clothed herself in it. As she looked into the mirror, she could not believe what she saw; she almost looked human.
The birds outside seemed to be calling out to her, beckoning her to follow them. As she stepped out into the exterior, she realised it was noon. She skulked in the shadows of the buildings and walked down the back alleys in order to return to her home. She always felt like she should not be spotted leaving the palace and now she was there frequently it was even riskier. She managed to reach the house without being scathed and walked inside.
A hand was pulled quickly over her mouth and a knife held to her throat. She tried to scream but the grip was too tight and the adrenaline coursed through her veins as if they might explode at any given moment whilst she struggled against her attacker. She felt the warm breath of the man on her neck as he put his mouth by her ear and began to warn her: "Stop struggling, stop. You'll only endanger yourself more." Tears began to spring forth from her eyes silently as she went limp in his grasp. All she felt was utter despair and remorse, she didn't ask to be brought into this. "I have a message for you. If you don't stay away from the prince, you will be disposed of, am I making myself clear?" She nodded her head and sobbed, he jerked her. "Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes." She managed to blurt out coherently despite the hand. She was thrown across the floor and the man ran out, leaving her wretched form breaking into pieces as she wept.
Commodus sat by the window staring out at the world that would soon bow before his feet. It was strange, but he felt as if it was only a dream, a distant dream, but he knew he was heir. Nothing could destroy his Utopia. The moon had come out from hiding before the sun had left, so he knew the night was drawing in to disturb the beauty of the sun lit streets. He had sent for Amorina about an hour ago and was now growing amazingly impatient as he waited for her to arrive. Eventually, she was pushed in by one of the guards and his chamber doors were shut, as if they were preventing her escape - but why would she want to escape him?
"Where have you been? I sent for you a long time ago." He didn't even bother to look back at her.
"Nowhere." She said to her feet.
"That's a lie." He said coolly.
"I d-don't think it is wise for us to..." She stuttered. "For us to, continue with your...sessions."
He turned his head slowly to look at her, growing worried yet furious by her sudden change of heart. "It is not for you to think whether my business is wise or not." She was about to speak, but he cut her off. "And when I call for you, I expect you to arrive within minutes - not hours."
"Commodus..." She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she tried to speak. "Commodus, I..."
He raised his hand to silence her and returned to his window-gazing. "I thought you liked me."
"What?" She was unsure about why he said this. "Of course I like you..."
"Don't lie." He shouted. "You're a liar." He stood and walked over to her, looking at her deeply in the eyes closing the space between them. "I thought you loved me."
"I do love y..." Tears were staining her cheeks now.
"Shh. You're hurting me." He walked away from her slowly and sat on his bed. "You are behaving oddly. I know something has changed."
"Please." She begged him to listen to her.
"Please what? You?" He was wounded and he wanted her to know it.
"A man held a knife to my throat today. He told me to stay clear of you." She feared for her life as she spurted out to words weakly.
"Don't lie." He yelled it with the fire of a phoenix and backhandedly hit her. She fell to the floor and curled into a ball as if protecting herself as his enraged face was washed with realisation of what he had done. They were even. "I'm sorry." He composed himself and helped to sit her up as she sobbed into his body. She clung onto his robes as if she were frantic that they should not be parted again. He rested his chin on her head and felt a kind of intimacy and closeness he had never shared with anyone before - it was a real hug, a full one. He kissed her hair and rocked her slightly trying to calm her hysteria.
"They told me they would kill me if I did not stay away from you." She snivelled.
"Who said this?" He asked.
"The man with the knife." She could not believe he wasn't following the story.
"No." He laughed slightly under his breath. "Who was the man with the knife."
"I don't know." She confessed. "He had his back to me."
"Did you not see his face or garments?" He questioned her gently.
"No, he had his back to me." She repeated. "Commodus, I was so scared..."
"I promise that as long as you are in my company, nothing will happen to you. I promise."
