After their fourth child, Flora felt the change. The subtle shift in her husband's demeanor that would signify the end of her reign as Consort to the Emperor.
They had first met in a city once so full of greed, sin, and corruption that it was wiped from the Mojave. Wearing a dogs head and a beguiling smile, Flora vowed that she would follow the man anywhere, even into the bowels of Hell if need be. Vulpes taught her well as she sat at his feet in the firelight. Under his careful tutelage, the Courier accomplished many feats and soon brought the Mojave to heel and accept the searing brand of Caesar's will.
Three great things happened in quick succession after the Legion annexation of the Mojave. Flora and the smiling man were joined in union, which flourished with the birth of twins, a truly great sign from Mars. Her husband was allowed to retire and become a Senator, where his easy smile and smooth tongue brought him great success. The great mountain of a man, that bloodthirsty beast Lanius Legate was slain, trying to bed a conquered chieftain's wife no less. Despite the implied mourning, her husband was overjoyed. During the war, the Legate had made his feelings quite clear in regards to her husband and his operatives. The Legate favored brute force and strength, finding cowardice in espionage and tact. The loss of the Legate also brought her husband closer to the throne, making him Heir Apparent.
Two years later, mighty Caesar died and Vulpes was crowned Emperor of the Empire.
...
"I love you," Flora says tenderly, looking into his eyes, her hand outstretched.
"I will see you in New Vegas," Vulpes responds, taking her hand, pressing his lips dryly to her knuckles.
Her husband looks uninterested, as if he has already moved onto another task and is merely reminiscing about this moment in the near future. Finding a pleasant smile, she hides her disappointment. How long has it been since she heard him utter the words she so longed to hear?
"It was always you," she says, not wanting to say goodbye but unable to ignore the weight of the finality that hung heavily around her shoulders.
Flora knew she would not meet her husband in New Vegas nor she would ever see him again.
"My life for you," she whispers, holding the Mark that brought them together as the carriage begins to move forward, taking her and their children into another chapter.
Fortunate for Flora, there were some that were still loyal to her. Just outside the Capital, a young man comes running up to her carriage, upsetting her armed escort. Flora waves them away upon recognizing the young man. He carries a message, one of great importance. Her brow furrows as she read and re-read the message.
"Is this accurate?," she asks, unwilling to believe.
"Lady Wren says a hundred percent. "
Crumbling the message, Flora wipes her face.
"Tell Wren I give my thanks."
"Mars be with you," the young man says giving a short bow.
The procession stops for the night at a small inn. In the morning they would continue onward, entering the great barren nothing called the Mojave. Flora manages to convince a wayward woman to "exchange" places with her, spinning a story regarding an arranged marriage to a wealthy yet mysterious man and her growing apprehension. She feels a pang of guilt as the woman greedily accepts, taking the Mark from her open palm.
Out of all the people sacrificed, what's one more?
In the glow of a familiar green light, Flora smiles as she plots out the course that will take her North, far from the sand, radiation and despair that choke her. In the virgin forests of Zion, she hopes to find a new home for her family.
...
Vulpes sits brooding on his throne, a golden chain hanging from his clenched fist. A torrent of emotions surge through him as he stares at his fist. The doors open and Miranda, his current mistress, is presented to him. She stands proudly before him, irritating him to a fantastical degree.
"Kneel," he commands in a harsh tone. "Kneel before your Emperor!"
Miranda appears struck, never seeing this side of her lover before.
"Are you dumb or just stupid?!," he snarls. "Kneel!"
Unable to hide her apprehension, Miranda sinks to her knees and waits.
"Come here," Vulpes hisses.
Miranda begins to rise but is stopped cold.
"Crawl," he says. "Crawl to me like the bitch you are."
With as much dignity as she can muster, Miranda crawls on her hands and knees towards the throne.
"What troubles you my love?," she purrs as she sits at his feet, unable to read the signs of his growing anger and of her imminent danger.
Flora had always teased that if Vulpes had a tail, his silent moods would be impossible to hide. Memories from ages ago flood his mind's eye, his wife always knew how to soothe him but now, thanks to the meddling cunt before him, he would never be soothed. The caravan carrying his wife and children were ambushed in the vast Mojave Desert, attacked by what appeared to be remnants of the Tribals that lingered in that dreadful environment. There were no survivors. Too late Vulpes realises what he has lost.
He flings the item in his hand at the woman before him, noticing her flinch, earning more disgust from him. Miranda is unable to hide the look of satisfaction as she picks up the medallion, grasping it between two fingers to avoid the dried blood that clung to the links.
"What happened?," she asks in horribly false tones.
"What did you do?," he hisses, fighting the urge to strangle the woman before him.
"She was in my way," Miranda replies breezily as she stands. "Since you were going set her aside anyways, I decided to remove her completely before she could convince you otherwise."
"Those were my children," Vulpes growls.
Miranda places a hand over her stomach, "And you will have more, my Emperor. As your wife, I will..."
Vulpes snorts at her statement, causing the words to die in her pretty mouth.
"I will only have one wife, I will not marry again, " he says fiercely.
"But our children," she stammers.
"The children will be welcome but you, Miranda, have acted beyond your station!"
The shocked look upon her face fuels his hunger, giving way to a dark glimmer and the point of a toothy smile.
"Did you think you were the first that I had ventured out with?," Vulpes smirks, watching her face twist as his words cut deeply. "You are nothing more than something pretty that caught my eye."
"Leave us!," Vulpes barks to the guards stationed around the throne room. "And fetch a healer, have them wait outside, their services will be needed shortly."
Miranda stands tall, promising herself that she will not scream.
She does scream. Her cries echo all the way into the courtyard garden. Hours later, Vulpes calls the healer into the throne room to tend to his bruised knuckles while Miranda is dragged away to survive the night on her own.
