“She? Involved in the Negrum Forum?”, asked Felix, “How do you know?”
“I have my own sources.” replied ‘Lord’ Albus Etluxius.

They had left the bar and were walking down the dark streets of Rome. The young lord had insisted on talking outside. Centurion Felix Dectivius didn’t want to be alone with this man he didn’t trust but he didn’t have a choice.
“Is that why you invited me for a drink here?” asked Felix, looking cautiously at the dark alleys for potential thieves or murderers.

“Yes.” replied the young lord, he seemed relaxed considering being a man of upper-class and walking the dark streets at night. “There are many rumors about her. I was rather curious and wished to meet her.”

“Why bring me along?” asked the centurion. They had come out on the large street where the colosseum was, it was so high it blocked the moonlight.

“And what if she’s involved in the...” the young lord stopped walking, with a sad look on his face, “What if she knows something about the Decumius’ murder?” It was the first time Felix saw the young lord look so sad. But that expression was gone in a second replaced with coldness.

“Did you know the Decumius family well?” asked Felix.

The young Lord may have smiled, but his eyes flashed a warning. “I was young Ianuarius’ teacher.” He patted Felix on the shoulder, sending shivers through the centurion’s spine. “A teacher can care for his student as a parent would care for his child, centurion.” An uncomfortable silence followed as the men walked more.
“ I should start interrogating her as soon as possible.” mumbled Felix. To the centurion’s surprise, Lord Albus laughed. “That won’t work. It’s best to enter the sorceress’s trust.” They stopped in front of a building. “Sorceresses are such tricky women.”
“You believe she’s a sorceress?” Felix stopped himself from smiling, “Let’s not be ridiculous.”
“Centurion.” the look in Albus’s eyes was something between threatening and gleeful, “We have arrived at your home.”
Felix stopped and looked. Indeed it was his home. How did he not notice?
“You sure you don’t wish me to escort you first, my lord?” asked Felix, knowing that the streets were dangerous at this time of night.
“I’ll be fine, centurion.” was the lord’s reply.
“You sure?”
Felix was surprised when the Lord Albus laughed. “I’m sure. I know my way around.” The lord looked at Felix, “Take care centurion,” he started going down the street, “, there are many things you’re not aware of.”

Before Felix could respond, the young Lord had vanished through the dark streets. As he stood there, wondering what the lord meant, the door behind him opened, revealing light and a small shape.

---

“Papa!” said the girl as she embraced her father.
“Maxima!” Felix hugged his 5 year old daughter as her older sister and mother came. Maxima started jumping up and down,
“Papa! Papa! Grandfather let me ride a horse today!”
“He did?” said Felix as he kissed his wife and went in the house. He sat at the dinner table as Maxima bounded after him.
“He did!” Felix put her on his lap, “But he said that Junia was better!”
“He didn’t say that!” retorted Junia, “He said that if you practiced enough, you’d become as good as me!”

Felix chuckled as his two little daughters bickered over what grandfather said and didn’t say. He turned as a servant laid a bowl of soup in front of him.
“Thank you.” the young man didn’t respond as he vanished from sight.
Felix put Maxima down as he started eating.
His wife, Valeria, sat in front of him, her blue eyes reflecting the candles that were giving off light. “Girls, why don’t you go play while I talk with your father?”
With much complaining, the girls scurried off. Valeria looked at her husband worryingly, “Is it true?” she asked. Felix looked at her, knowing it was futile to hide the truth.
“It is.” replied Felix, sadly, “Everyone, except the daughter, was killed.”
The sad look in his wife’s eyes was enough to break his heart.
“Poor Lucius.”
“I know.” Felix got up and embraced his wife.
“My father knew Senator Decumius, too.” She put her hand on his arm, “This is going to hurt him.”

Felix remained silent. He knew how close the Lucritius family was with the Decumiuses. “The household guards had managed to kill two of the perpetrators.”
Valeria turned around to look at her husband, “And?”
“One was Egyptian and the other one a Roman. According to Lucius, he was a deserter”
“Did you recover Aemilia Decumius?”
“No.” Felix lowered his voice, “We didn’t find her.”

His wife started biting her finger, a habit of hers she did every time she was nervous. “I better write a letter to Father.” She started heading for the pigeon coop, which was in the courtyard.
“If you are, can you ask your father something?” Valeria turned around, her blue eyes reflecting the candles’ lights.
“Can you ask your father if Senator Celsus Decumius was involved in any case concerning the Negrum Forum?”
“The Black Market?” Valeria looked terrified, “Felix, I..”
“Just ask him.” replied Felix, a bit more sternly than he meant to. After seeing how shocked his wife was, he put his head down, “Sorry.”
“It’s alright” replied Valeria, her golden hair swaying in the light breeze, “You’re tired. Stressed from… today.” She moved a lock of hair behind her ear, “Why don’t you go to bed, love?”

Felix hadn’t realized how tired he was. He agreed with his wife’s offer and headed for his chambers.

After getting out of his armor and polishing it. He went into bed and, being an overthinker, let his thoughts run wild. Why is the Black Market involved in this? Was Senator Decumius involved in something? What was Lucius going to show me? Can I trust Lord Albus Etluxius?

At some point, Felix fell asleep. And his dreams invaded.

He was 16. This was his first battle. So many soldiers running, shouting, killing, dying. His spear was covered in blood. When? How? He didn’t know. The only thing he knew was that if he stood still, he would die…

The dream changed, all of a sudden, Felix was standing in run down temple. Statues of fruit baskets and women adorned it. It would have been beautiful if the flora hadn’t grown so much and so wildly. Felix turned, inside the temple, in the center, stood a dais with an assortment of fruits and vegetables. He approached it.
“Unbeliever!” Felix startled, jumped back.
“Who’s there?” he asked. He looked at the dais where a shimmering form had appeared. The form took the shape of a woman.

She looked Greek. She had hair the color of a tree bark , her eyes were the color of wheat, and her skin was as beautiful and pale as a white flower. “I am Demeter.”
She didn’t move her mouth to speak, her voice simply resonated from everywhere. Even though she looked calm, her eyes seemed to bore holes in Felix.
“What do you want?” asked Felix. This must be a dream,he thought, There’s no such thing as gods.

“Revenge.” was the woman’s reply. She started approaching Felix, her wheat-colored eyes glowing. “I want revenge.”
Felix tried to back away, but his legs refused to move. His whole body refused to move! The woman was now in front of him, she outstretched her arm and touched his forehead, “And you, unbeliever, are going to help me get it.”

Her hand started to glow.

His vision turned yellow. A burning pain erupted in his forehead. He screamed.
He woke up.

Felix was sitting up, he was covered in cold sweat, breathing hard. He looked to his right where his wife was sleeping peacefully. Undeterred by her husband’s sudden awakening.

He slowly got up and opened the window, letting the cold night breeze in to calm him. Once he caught his breath, he touched his forehead.

He didn’t feel the apparition of any scar or burn but it was hot. He sighed and leaned against the windowsill.

It was just a dream. He thought, Nothing more.

Felix closed the window and headed back to bed.

Little did he know, that in a dark alley, obscured by the night, two people stood there. One in beggar's clothing and the other in a voluptuous black cloak which hid their face. Both of them had been watching.

Notes

OMA GERRD! NEW CHAPTER!

Was Senator Decumius involved in the Black Market? Was Felix's dream only a dream? Who were the two people watching him?

Find out next on "Murder in Family Decumius"!

Note of note: Yes, I'll be continuing the story through this account. And yes, this is ME! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Anyway, vote, subscribe and comment!