I was trying not to trip over my toga when Dakota pulled me aside. "We need to talk," he said in a low v.oice.

"Whatever it is, can it wait until after the Senate? I don't want to be there to see him be sworn in any more than you do but I quite like my job and I'd rather not lose it." I said, my mind in a fluster. I'd been late for too many meetings lately and I'd been warned to improve my attendance.I wasn't told the consequences in specific terms but it was a given that it would involve my post being taken away. Maybe I had hated and feared the idea of caring for a cohort when I had first taken the post, but I had grown to love it and I didn't want to lose the opportunity I'd been given to look after others and to try and improve their lives. I was finally making a positive difference and I didn't want that to go away

"I found a lead about the fire at your house." Dakota said, his eyes frantic.

"What?"

"I've been doing some research about it on my downtime out of, you know, curiosity. I think I might've figured out what caused it."

I nodded, trying to take in the information. All I could see in my mind were images of the fire - flashes of terror and the sensation of breathing in smoke and ash. I remembered the charcoal made of my father's bones as they joined the ruins of our home in melting into the earth. "After the meeting then. I'll meet you at the top of Temple Hill and you will talk. But for now, we're going to be late."

---

I wanted to smack the smug smile off Octavian's face as he took a seat on the other side of the room, clenching the badge of his new office in hand. I hadn't forgotten how he'd set off my attack and sent me running into the woods. I hadn't forgotten how his laugh trailed after me or how he had approached me mere days ago with an offer of friendship.

"Thank you for forgiving me " He had said.

"I didn't." I had answered.

He had laughed. "You don't mean that!"

"Don't tell me what I don't mean."

"But... they offered me the post of Centurion. If I'll be working with you then shouldn't we at least try to be friends?"

"No." I had answered before walking away. It hadn't been a very polite or lengthly conversation but I'd been afraid that if I'd have let my emotions loose I could've ended up being fired fron my position or been sent spiraling into another attack.

The look on his face as he graciously accepted the position was nearly the corkscrew that loosened my bottled emotions but I managed to grit my teeth through the ceremony. There were kids to be taken off probatio, legionaires to retire and mundane maintenance issues to be dealt with. I made it through the long meeting on only the anticipation of what was to come.

Dakota knew somehing, and I wanted to know what it was.

Notes

So sorry I meant to get this up a few days ago but then a walked away and may have maybe forgotten. After that my motivation was nonexistent but it is night and I can't sleep so here is the promised update! :) I'll try and give you another one soon!

On another note, I have glowsticks beside my bed and they're beautiful. I hope your day glows as brightly as they do :))))))

-Phoebe :)