Romulus indicated Scaevola's blood-sodden corpse. 'Yet he worked for Antonius?'
Fabiola ignored the question. 'It's so good to see you!'
Romulus smiled, acutely aware that she had just changed the subject. Why? Stop it, he thought. Your wildest dream has just come true. 'It's amazing,' he agreed. 'We were children the last time we saw each other. Now look at us: all grown up. Mother would be so proud.'
Fabiola's expression grew sad. 'Did Gemellus tell you what happened to her?'
'Yes. I lost it when he did,' Romulus answered. 'Sliced his cheek right open. It felt good for a moment, but it didn't bring her back.'
'Never mind. She's in Elysium now,' Fabiola declared robustly. 'I'm sure of it.'
They sat in silence for a moment, honouring Velvinna's memory. The noise of combat from outside was dying down, to be replaced by the prostitutes' screams of distress. Fabiola could take it no longer. 'I've got to help.' Getting up, she selected a dress from the selection hanging on the wall. With her modesty restored, she turned to Romulus. 'Come on. I'll take you to another room where you can rest, away from him. Bastard.' She spat on Scaevola's body.
Struck by her steely will, Romulus followed Fabiola into the corridor. She must have suffered terribly here, he thought. Sold into a brothel at thirteen, and forced to sleep with men for money. It's not much different to rape. For his part, he was glad that his path had been to fight and kill men. Yet his sister had survived, and grown into a smart, confident woman. Romulus was already proud of her. 'You'd make a good legionary,' he said.
'Secundus says I fight well,' she revealed proudly. 'Soldiering is best left to men, though. After all, it's just about brute strength and ignorance, isn't it?'
Romulus laughed at her dig. 'There's far more to it than that,' he protested. 'Look at someone like Caesar. He's the most incredible general.' His face lit up. 'The man can read a fight like no one else. Turn the tide of combat with a single order. Win against all the odds.' He grinned at Fabiola. 'I've even met him.'
'So have I,' she spat back.
Romulus recoiled at her fury. 'What did I say?'
'Nothing,' Fabiola muttered. She had been burning to tell her brother about Caesar since the moment she'd clapped eyes on him, but had held back. The moment had to be right. Now Romulus' obvious admiration for the dictator filled her with anger and confusion.
'Don't you like him?' asked Romulus. 'He's meant to be charming towards women.'
Fabiola's rage could no longer be contained. 'Don't you see? He tried to rape me,' she screamed.
Romulus' eyes bulged with shock. 'He did what?'
'Fortunately Brutus came back, so the whoreson couldn't carry through with it,' she continued. 'But he did enough for me to know.'
'Know what?'
'Who he was.'
He gave her a confused look.
Fabiola took both of his hands in hers. 'Caesar was the one who attacked Mother.'
Romulus didn't really take in the words. 'Eh?'
She repeated herself. Then, to make it crystal clear, 'He raped her.'
Shaken, he pulled away. 'How do you know?'
'The look in his eyes, and his tone. His words — they… I just knew,' Fabiola said, her voice shaking with passion.
His mind reeling, Romulus looked away. 'You mean… you think we are…'
'Caesar's children. Yes,' she replied.
'Gods,' Romulus muttered. The man he idolised — his father? Who had raped his mother. How can that be, his mind screamed. It went against everything he'd come to believe in. 'Did you ask Caesar if he'd done it?'
She looked at him with scorn. 'Of course not. As if the bastard would admit to it anyway.'
'Then you can't be positive it was he.'
'I can,' she retorted vehemently. 'You weren't there. And you only have to look at yourself! Look in a mirror! Can't you see it?'
Romulus studied his sister's face, which was contorted with anger. 'Steady now. I believe you,' he said, reeling at her words. He did look like Caesar.
'Good.' She relaxed a little. 'Then you can help me kill him.'
His mouth fell open. 'You're joking.'
'Do I look as if I am?' she shot back, her eyes blazing.
'Hold on,' Romulus protested. 'You have no proof.'
She tapped over her heart. 'I know it here.'
'That's not enough. The Republic needs Caesar. Thanks to him, there will soon be peace.'
'What do I care about that? Why should you, for that matter? You're a slave,' Fabiola shouted. 'He raped Mother.'
Shaken by his sister's revelation, and feeling guilty that his feelings for Caesar did not match hers, Romulus did not answer.
'Fabiola?' called a voice.
Her eyes opened wide. 'Brutus?'
Romulus peered over her shoulder, seeing a brown-haired man in an expensive tunic walking down the corridor. His pleasant face wore a look of deep concern. 'Are you hurt?' he cried, breaking into a run. Behind him trotted a group of tough-looking legionaries.
'Oh Brutus,' Fabiola cried. Her bottom lip began to tremble, and a tear ran down her cheek. 'I'm fine. No one touched me.'
Romulus was confused by his sister's body language. Was this real or affected emotion?
Clearly, Brutus thought it was genuine. Reaching them, he pulled Fabiola into a fierce embrace. 'I came as soon as I heard,' he whispered, his voice cracking. 'Thank all the gods.' He muttered an order and his men immediately began checking every room. 'Bring me any you find alive,' he cried. 'I want to know who ordered this.'
'It was Antonius,' said Fabiola. 'I'm certain!'
Brutus looked unsettled. 'Not so loud,' he murmured, patting her hand. He glanced at Romulus and smiled. 'This must be your twin brother.'
Fabiola wiped away her tears. 'Yes.'
Romulus saluted. 'Honoured to meet you, sir.'
Brutus inclined his head in acknowledgement. 'The gods are truly smiling today.'
'They are,' agreed Fabiola, beaming. 'How did you know who he was?'
'Apart from the fact that you look like two peas in a pod?' Brutus grinned. 'The scarred man who came to warn me about the attack told me. A friend of yours?' he asked Romulus.
'Tarquinius? Yes, sir. He's an old comrade.'
'He's waiting outside,' said Brutus. The implication was obvious.
'With your permission, then, sir?' Romulus requested politely. It was time to fade into the background. A reconciliation between the two lovers looked possible, so he must not intrude. There was a great deal to reflect on too. Caesar was not just his general, he was — perhaps — his father, and Fabiola wanted to kill him. While Romulus had sworn the same if he ever discovered the rapist's identity, he was shaken to the core by the fact that it was Caesar. This was the man who had freed him from slavery. Whom he'd followed through thick and thin, from Egypt to Asia Minor and Africa. Whom he'd come to love. Romulus felt sick with confusion.
'Of course.' Brutus glanced at Fabiola. 'We'd best get you back to my domus. Romulus can visit later.'
'Don't leave it too long.' Fabiola reached out a hand. 'Bring your friend too.'
'We'll be along soon,' said Romulus.
'Everyone knows my house,' said Brutus. 'It's on the Palatine.'
'Thank you, sir.' Romulus was halfway down the corridor when he heard Brutus ask, 'Who raped your mother?'
A sudden tension filled the air.
Romulus stopped.
