I'd like to thank Homeric again for being my Beta! I'd also like to thank Saxongirl345, HopelessRomantic44, king. mozza, ans Scottishgal12 for reviewing. Your reviews helped me somewhat. I've been kind of depressed lately and it took me until 2 AM this morning to actually finish this chapter and send it off to Homeric. But you guys don't want to hear about that, so on with the story.

Chapter Two

Gruesome Discoveries

Bruises have a tendency to stand out. Mine, in particular, stood out like a house on fire. The bluish-black blotch on my cheek was impossible to hide. Aethel seemed especially angry with Marius.

"I can't believe he hit you! You of all people! Your father is friends with him," Aethel paced my room as her ranting carried on. "I can't believe you even helped the child! You should know better! I bet he's in for twice the punishment, now!"

"Aethel, hush now. I know what I did was wrong," I paused for a second. "I deserved to be hit, really. Doing that went against everything I was taught!"

"Yes, now, keep that sense!" My maid glowered at me. She had the right to, even if she was my maid, because she was and always will be a great friend. Aethel frowned at me before she went to tidy my small bed.

I stood from my chair. "I'm going for a walk. Well, I'm picking herbs for Fulcinia, actually." I said this casually and flashed her a quick smile that affected my mark, wincing at the sharp twinge of pain.

I hurried on my way and completely ignored the servants bustling by me. Some flashed me looks of sympathy while others, too, disregarded me. When I walked out of the black gates I didn't seem to be noticed, or if I was noticed no one seemed to care. I kept close to the wall as I strolled over to the black building.

My nostrils filled with a putrid smell as my feet fell closer to it. I pressed my ear against the door as I hoped not to be discovered eavesdropping. This, too, went against everything I had learned since a child. Screams faintly reached my ears. I frowned at that and quickly put pieces together in my mind. Bad smells and screaming? There had been a few places like this in Rome; I had always been told to avoid them. They were places of torture, not the surroundings that a girl of my station should ever be seen near.

Two things made me wonder the most, though. Why would Marius have a torturing building so close to his own home and why would he even have one? He was a man of God, even if he had become a greedy one now. The Marius I had met in Rome years before had never seemed as savage as this.

A monk savagely pushed the door open. "Eh, girl? What're you doin' here?" His voice already made it obvious he was obnoxious.

"I was taking a walk and collecting herbs for Fulcinia. She needs them to cook," I smiled nervously at him. I didn't want to offend another follower of God and Marius in the same week.

"Alright then, move along!" He barked and made a shooing motion with his hand.

I glanced over my shoulder as I moved away. I was infuriated at Marius's need to bend people to his will by torture – for I was sure that was what he was doing. I kept a smile on my face, however. I didn't want to seem ungracious given the fact that he was the only relative that would keep me.

I went along with collecting herbs. My thoughts were jumbled and hard for me even to follow. I knew I couldn't do anything to interfere. It wouldn't be right. My thoughts wandered while picking some herbs Fulcinia wanted me to, I admired some of the surrounding areas beauty. It was tainted by Marius's hate and greed, though. Anyone could see it radiating from his household. He only cared about his family, not his serfs.

After giving the herbs to Fulcinia, I sat quietly in my room, with my maid brushing my hair and watched the sun fall behind the horizon. I hadn't told Aethel what I'd learned of yet. Truly, I didn't want to tell her and make her worry. Her fears wouldn't make my life in Marius's home easier, but I knew that I had to. She was the only true friend I had.

"Aethel," I said quietly and turned to look at her.

"Yes, Milady?"

"I accidentally stumbled upon something as I picked herbs for Fulcinia." My voice wavered as I said the words. "Marius has a chamber.. Where he keeps people. Like the ones in Rome."

"What do you mean , Milady?" Aethel's face stayed blank. She clearly didn't want me to see the fear that clung to her.

"We can't let them know about you… About you being Saxon, that is," I said softly. She only nodded and continued to run the brush through my hair.

That evening I slept restlessly. I didn't know if I could keep pretending that Marius was a good man. He clearly wasn't. Everything seemed a little less bright. It was dismal to know that the world was full of beings such as Marius who did horrible things to good people. I had to do something, even if it did go against everything I had ever learned. If I didn't I would hold myself responsible for people's needless suffering until they day I died.

I decided to take a peek into this dungeon myself. I wanted to see if it was as horrible as I thought. I donned black trousers and a shirt that I had borrowed from a squire in Rome. I pulled my hair into a quick bun before setting out with my bow in hand, along with several hidden knives. The halls seemed abandoned at this time of night. I stayed close to the wall, however. I didn't want to take the chance of being caught and severely punished.

I stopped when I walked closer to the servant's quarters. Yells were echoing from the badly built huts. I strayed closer only to see two guards along with a child. The light illuminated his face for a second. It was the boy I had rescued before. I knew this time I couldn't interfere. I doubted I could withstand the punishment Marius would wield if I helped the boy.

I clung to the shadows afraid to venture an inch away from them now. I followed the guards out of the gates and watched as they escorted the boy towards the black building. The monks willingly took him. I grimaced at what they would do to him. I had only heard horrible rumors, but they made me wonder if they really happened. Trembling, I stayed where I was.

The guards retreated back to the castle with grimaces lining their faces. I doubted they liked their job of people snatching. I frowned and dropped to the ground before they could see me. I stopped breathing as they walked passed me. I waited until they were safely behind the estate's walls before carrying on towards the horrible smelling dungeon and the people it held.

I carefully pushed the wooden door open, surprised that they hadn't locked it. I stepped into the dark building and gazed around. Chains and rather frightening equipment hung from the ceiling. I closed the door, if only not to see those bloodstained instruments of torture.

I walked forward towards a dim light. Blood curdling screams filled the small tunnel. I heard bones snapping from my position and flinched at the sound as I peeked around the corner. It was a girls screams. Seeing the devices they used on her, I gagged and ran out. Footsteps followed me. I collapsed on the grass and let myself retch on the ground.

A dirty looking monk glared down at me as I looked up, "Come here, girl!"

I lumbered to my feet and backed away. My bow lay useless on the ground. I had dropped it in exchange for vomiting. I couldn't use a knife on this man of my God! So, I did the only thing I could think of.

"I'm Caelia Aeilia Cethega," I said loudly. "Guest of Marius Honorius."

"And what were you thinkin' comin' down here?" His voice spooked me.

"Nothing, sir," I figured it was better to be polite then rude.

"Don't think Marius won't hear about this!" He threatened as guards came running. They must have heard his extremely loud voice. The guards escorted me to my chambers. I was practically thrown into the room and my bow still laid on the grass where I had left it. I had reason to believe that it would also be reported to Marius that I was armed.

As I undressed and prepared myself for bed, Aethel's voice reached me. "Where were you, Milady?" He voice was soft, but worry tinged it.

"I'm sorry," I responded automatically. I paused for a second before hissing in her ear, "I was in the torturing room.."

I relaxed in my bed while Aethel lay down on her small cot at the other end of the room. The room was only lit by the half moon shining through the open windows. A breeze blew in, but although neither of us slept, she asked no more questions.

Dawn came nice and early. I awoke to find Aethel already gone. It was alright with me, however. I could get dressed on my own. I donned a dark blue dress and let my hair fall freely to my waist. I would have to skip my morning archery - I didn't have my bow and I doubted that the guards would lend me one of theirs.

I walked to the door wondering what Fulcinia had cooked for breakfast. I tried to turn the handle. It didn't work and there was no way I was strong enough to knock the strong wooden door down. Glaring at the door, I hit it with all my strength before sitting on the edge of my bed to wait.