The phone doesn’t even ring, it goes straight to voice mail. I search for Liv’s name and it does the same, then Sybilla’s. They’re all still gone and I’m here. Tears fill my eyes. They fall down my cheeks one by one as I sit on the edge of my bed wishing that I could be anywhere else but right here.
I chew on my bottom lip as I stare at my parents’ contact on my phone. I’m not sure I should call them, however, my mom is the only one on earth I think, who really believes the truth of what’s happened.
If I told her where I went and what happened to me, she would probably be the only person who would try and find a way for me to return.
After staring at her name for a few moments, I decide against calling her just yet. Pulling up the Safari app on my phone again, I search for parallel universes. I’m not exactly sure, but I think that’s exactly where I was, where my sisters still are.
The day turns into afternoon, to evening and then night. I stay glued to my phone, reading, and focused on this whole conspiracy theory about parallel universes. Although nowhere does anyone tell me how to get there—how to get back.
After not sleeping, I walk over to my window, opening it and sticking my head outside. Looking up to the sky, I wonder if Amare and Odium are somewhere up there. If they are like the gods that I see in movies, sitting up in their big oversized chairs looking down at the world… the worlds.
“Take me home,” I whisper to the sky, hoping that they can hear me. “Please, take me home.”
With a heavy sigh, I decide to shower and dress again for another day. I can’t stay in my room forever. I need to see if I still have my job. I need to find out if I can find someone somewhere who can send me back to Tiberius.
I have a million things that I truly need to do. None of them include my scarred warrior and my heart twists at the thought. Once I’m dressed and ready, I grab my phone and purse. With my keys in my hand, I reach for the apartment door, opening it, but not stepping out, and something happens.
Pain radiates throughout my entire body. It takes me down to my knees. I cry out with a blood-curdling scream as that pain doesn’t weaken, it only grows stronger. I hear someone in the background shouting, but I can’t even open my eyes to look up, to see who it is.
My body starts to tremble, then it begins to shake and convulse. Someone in the distance shouts that I’m seizing, but I don’t know what I’m doing, because I’ve never felt this way before, the pain is just too much to bear.
Then everything goes dark.
TIBERIUS
Cassia narrows her gaze at me, flicking her eyes from Decima to me, then back to her and back to me again. I expect her to say something, but she doesn’t. Instead, she stands and turns her back, walking away without a single word.
“Your family does not like me, Tiberius,” she hums.
“I do not like you, Decima,” I snap.
She lifts her chin in the air, then I watch as she places her palm against her belly. “It matters not, Tiberius. I am to be your empress and the mother of your children.”
“Child, and we shall see.”
“You shall see?” she hisses. Nodding my head, I lift my hand and motion for Brutus to come over to us. “Yes, Decima, we shall see. You are not my empress and cannot be as such. We shall see if you are indeed with child.”
She growls just as Brutus arrives, but I ignore her and turn toward my cousin. “Lock her in the cubiculum that I have been residing in the past few weeks.”
Ignoring her, I walk away and head toward Marcellus, who is watching the exchange with an unreadable look on his face. He doesn’t say anything as I approach, but he needn’t. I know without a doubt that he is unhappy and curious, the rest I could guess, but I don’t plan to.
“I need the pontifex maximus,” I announce.
Marcellus dips his chin, his gaze finding mine and holding it for a long moment before he speaks. “He is here, staying in guest quarters. I didn’t think I should send him away just yet. Where is your empress?”
“That woman is a venefica. Unfortunately, they gather and play with the prophecy. She claims to have been implanted with my seed.”
“Tiberius, you didn’t?” he hisses.
Shaking my head, I plant my fists against my hips. “Not willingly.”
Marcellus’ eyes widen and he dips his chin in a short nod. “Understood. Where is she?”
“Amare and Odium sent her somewhere to stay safe until… I don’t know when. Until this is sorted.”
“The gods?” he rasps.
Nodding my head, I don’t bother confirming this with words. He knows as well as I do that this is the work of the gods. Though the venefica play, the gods will no doubt ensure that all is as it is meant to be, though it may take a bit longer than any had planned at this point.
“I will gather the pontifex maximus,” Marcellus announces before he turns and hurries off.
Deciding that I cannot stand out in the middle of the room and do nothing, I head into my office and sink down in my chair with a heavy sigh. I close my eyes for just a moment, glad to be alone, but it does not last long.
“You disgust me,” Cassia announces as soon as she bursts into the room.
My eyes open, widening at her outburst as I sit up and look at her across my desk. Her hands are on her hips, her gaze narrowed and her face red.
“Where is your
