Date: Sat, 4 May 1996 22:45:23 -0400 From: Diane Shea WARNING: This story deals with the events during the flashback in "A More Permanent Hell". No spoilers from Ashes to Ashes, since I haven't seen it! It contains, among other things, an attempt by Divia to seduce Lucius. "Why?" you ask. Well read and find out. If this idea disturbs you, then good, it's supposed to. You may enjoy it, or be digusted by it, your choice. Either way send comments to me at KerrRaven@aol.com Disclaimer, as if it matters; Lucius, Divia, Selene (well Seline in the script, but historically spelled Selene) and Flavius are not my characters. I'm just using them in ways never intended by their creators. Rhaneus the Enforcer, on the other hand, is my own. Watch out, he bites! Author notes: I think most of this story came to me at 3:00 am one night. Took me three more weeks to make sure the historical elements in the background were correct, but you could say the basic plot was a spontaneous kind of thing. :) I blame nearly all of it on Divia, btw. She made me do it! ------------------------ "Embers" by Diane Shea KerrRaven@aol.com part 1/3 ------------------------ Pompeii. August 24, 79 A.D. Around noon. Selene wandered restlessly about the peristyle. The garden in the middle of the room was awash in the sun's rays, but outside the boundary of columns, the shadows ruled. Selene felt the eerie quality of light and dark paralleled her mind's condition. In amongst the roses of her success were thorns, as sharp and dangerous as any Legionnaire's dagger. It was true she had much to be thankful for. Her prosperity was well known among the inhabitants of the city, and there were only a few who disapproved of her path to success. Outwardly, she seemed happy. A beautiful woman who, through shrewd actions, had invested in the natural role of men and women, turning it to her advantage. In the eyes of the people, she was constantly balanced on the edge between depravity and divinity, but always managed to remain the envy of both patricians and plebeians alike. What threatened to destroy her plans had nothing to do with daily chores or the precarious lifestyle she indulged in. Things beyond the normal realm had invaded her routine. Even so, she felt the necessity to try to control that which was not her fault. Her will was strong. There were times when it was all she'd had to raise her standard of living above what all would have expected. She would not stop now. The party had been a wonderful diversion the night before, but it did nothing to solve her problems. She had no idea how she was going to keep Divia's condition secret from Lucius now that he had returned. The child had become unnatural to say the least, and she could not be sure he would accept her if he suspected something. If he was to find out the details of Divia's new life he might have her killed. Even of this, Selene could not be sure. At best Lucius was unpredictable. It was part of what she loved about him, even as she cursed him. To add to her worries, the very earth had been disturbed for the past few days, reminding her of the great earthquake that occurred during her youth. Selene looked up through the opening in the roof. Glancing towards the noonday sun, she wished the light cascading down could brighten her mood as well as the greenery. From the corner of her eye she saw a movement. Startled, she turned towards the source. Divia stood quietly near her, awaiting her attention. Selene noticed how she carefully avoided the rays of light. "Mother, I have come to give you a choice," spoke her daughter with unchild- like conviction. "And what choice is that?" she asked warily. She had to admit, she feared her daughter's new ways. "A choice between eternal life or an upcoming death. You cannot tell me you have not noticed the warning of the mountain," Divia explained patiently, as though the role of child and parent were reversed. Selene did not appreciate being lectured in this manner. Whatever Divia had become, *she* was still her mother. "If you mean the tremblings of the earth, then yes, I have felt them. We may have to leave this dwelling for a time if..." "No, you do not understand," Divia cut her off, her impatience beginning to surface. "It is greater than a small disturbance of the ground. You would do well to fear it." Selene wondered at her choice of words. "Am I to take it that *you* will be spared?" Divia's reply was serious, not arrogant as she had expected. "I will survive, unlike those who are mortal. Unlike you, mother, if you do not want to see reason. I can make you into what I am. The one who saved me taught me how." Selene had never thought of this. She was not prepared for the emotions that filled her heart. "No! I do not want...I cannot kill those around me in such a way." "Would you rather die yourself? Vesuvius' heart is in turmoil, make no mistake. Our city has become too proud. The mountain will have--" She stopped abruptly. Selene watched as Divia reacted to a sound too subtle for her own ears. A moment later, an iron stand supporting a pitcher began to vibrate, the water within rippling in agitation. A low rumbling resonated from deep in the earth as the ground shook beneath their feet. After a minute all subsided. The statues, a moment ago threatening to fall, were still once again. Divia looked at her mother, a hint of triumph in her eyes, and said, "Do you need any more convincing?" Selene felt her daughter was wrong in attributing this disturbance to Vesuvius. After all, Divia had not been born when the last earthquake had rocked Pompeii. She was not sure if she was relieved or not. "It need not be the mountain that is the source of these fears. We have survived divisions of the very earth in this city before you were born. It has taken time to rebuild, but we are still here," she argued. "I had not thought you would be so blind. I can feel the destructive force of the mountain. It *is* a living thing. It breathes terrible promises. I have been outside at night and witnessed her return to the living. She gives off a heat that only I can feel. There is a glow above her peak, dim red and orange flares reflected in the heavens. Vesuvius' eye is opening. When she wakes her gaze will blaze forth for all to see, before they are destroyed. I offer you a future! Become like me and you will be saved." She thought of what Divia offered, her mind turning back to that night of revulsion. ***** July, 79 A.D. Selene watched her daughter with anxiety as she fed upon one of their servants. The body of the young woman fell to the floor in a rustle of cloth as Divia released her. Selene turned away at last, deeply disturbed by what had become of her daughter. "You do not approve?" asked her now satisfied child. Selene was silent. Divia continued, annoyed, "What would you have me do? I was given this power, though I never expected it. It was not my choice, but I embrace this chance. I will have more than I could have dreamed possible." When Selene did not agree or encourage her, she added bitterly, "Besides, your plan failed." Selene was reminded of what she had hoped would work out for the best. If Divia could prove her worth to Lucius, her future might be better. In Divia, she had seen her own immortality, even if he had not. Securing her daughter's future would satisfy her. Selene knew Lucius would not acknowledge Divia as his own child, but she could tell he was fond of the girl nonetheless. Selene understood the General's ways, though not as well as she understood the man behind the title when he became her lover at night. At times it was hard to forgive him for never having taken her as his wife. It would have increased her standing considerably, though it might have pulled his own reputation down a notch. But she knew he could overcome that. He had already worked hard to get where he was. Through cold intelligence and relentless determination, he'd won the admiration of his men, and the more grudging respect of the Roman hierarchy. The truth was that he'd had no time to begin considering a permanent family, being in the service of the Emperor required too much commitment. Nor was he a kindhearted man to begin with. His element was in the early morning blood-mist of the battlefield. When they made love, Selene would be reminded of this ruthlessness, but she delighted in the chance to give back what she received. He lived to control that which fought against him. Most of the time she obeyed, and he let her do as she pleased. It was only in the private world of their passion that she would show her true feelings and become the lioness to his lion. It was rare to find a man in all of the Empire who enjoyed bringing a woman to the edge the way he did. Most men delighted in the chase, but rarely had a nature fit for reveling in the kill. They had been drawn to each other since their first meeting. Even after the birth of Divia, when Lucius should have uncomplicated his life by forgetting about them for good, he chose to stay. She was thankful for this. No other man understood her better, and both hated and loved her for it as much as he. She had his protection against those who would like to do her harm, and in return, he had her beauty, and the attention of her daughter. Selene had hoped, perhaps in vain, to tie him to them more closely. She realized now that Lucius' perversity was not as far reaching as she had counted on. "I *was* wrong," she admitted to her daughter. "I thought I knew the best way to his heart. It is but another lesson we learn in life. There are some people who you cannot predict. Even those that are closest to you." Divia was no longer interested in mortal lessons. "I have little need to worry about things of that nature now. The status I sought is no longer of consequence." "Now you simply kill those in your way?" Selene asked, not wanting to hear the answer. "I've no doubt that if you'd had the power in your early years as a servant, you would not have hesitated to use it," she pointed out. "Besides, it is not for pleasure or power alone that I do this. I *must* take their blood. I have no choice." "I know," Selene replied quietly, understanding the true horror of Divia's situation. ***** Selene had tried to shut out the memory of that night, and the realization that Divia must continue to feed every night. Now she faced a choice. She could become like her daughter. Become a creature, feeding off the blood and life of young women, innocent boys. Selene could feel disgust at the unnaturalness of what she had been protecting begin to take hold of her. "You have become a servant of Orcus himself! I do not want to join you in your fate," she accused, finally speaking the truth of her beliefs. Her eyes clouding, Selene gave in to tears at last. Her heart ached over matters she could not control, choices she could not make. If Divia were hurt by her mother's words, she did not show it. "Fine," she said resignedly. "I will go to Father. He will take to the killing naturally, I'm sure." That said, she turned away from her mother for the last time, crossed the room, and disappeared into the passageway leading to the atrium. ------------------------ "Embers" by Diane Shea KerrRaven@aol.com part 2/3 ------------------------ ------------------------ August 24, 79 A.D. Around one o'clock in the afternoon, a premature night descended over the countryside. In another part of the city a dog, sleeping in the entryway of his master's dwelling, awoke from his dreaming. He had been disturbed by a rumbling, much like he had been four times that week already. This time the noise did not die down like before. It continued on until reaching a crescendo of sound that deafened his sensitive ears. And there was more than simply noise. The dog sniffed the air, whimpering at the scent. Something unnatural was invading his world. He walked out as far as his tether would allow and looked about his territory. His instinct told him he was still within the hours of light, but his pupils had to widen to take in the dim surroundings. The dog barked, desperate to alert his humans to the danger that was quickly surrounding them. A stone smelling of fire hurled down at him, nearly hitting his paw. The dog retreated into the protection of the dwelling as far as he could. The screams of people filled his ears and he barked in answer. His master finally appeared, only to run by him. The dog crouched out of his way as he went past, and then tried to follow, his tail wagging frantically. The leash, that had never been a bother, had now become his worst enemy. He pulled against the restraint as his master disappeared into the darkness outside the house. Minutes passed, and the dog, nearly exhausted from trying to gain an impossible freedom, found the air around him turning sour. As he breathed, his lungs burned, and panic filled his mind. He was drowning in the darkness. Curling up on the floor he tried to shut out the pain, but the burning continued. His eyes bulged as they were seared by the toxins in the air. Finally, in a fit of convulsions the dog died, asphyxiated by the poisons from the mountain. ------------------------ ------------------------ Vesuvius chose to erupt as Divia gave her father the same choice she had given her mother. Under the circumstances, Lucius had thoughtlessly chosen to live, never knowing what that would entail. Amid the death and destruction of an entire city, Divia smiled. She had not wanted to be alone, with only Rhaneus for company. Her father would prove a more sociable companion as she looked for a new place to settle. He might even learn to like the decision he had made, in time. Divia looked at the near lifeless form of her mother's lover sprawled upon the floor. His eyes closed, his breathing stilled, he lay like one dead. Almost complete satisfaction had been gained by the taking of his blood. It had almost been impossible to stop in time. She might have believed she'd failed had she not felt the beginnings of a connection with he who had once been her father. It was thin as a spider's weaving, but it was forming. It would be *she* who would have to give him back his life. With her blood she could revive him. On her whim she could deny him. She knew he would try to forget who it was responsible for his existence. Who it was that now controlled him, as he had controlled her mother and herself. She would make him understand. He would pay for his indiscretion with Selene, and his refusal of her. As she watched, Lucius began to stir. The need she'd anticipated was becoming evident in his eyes, golden light replacing the usual pale blue, at his first cautious glances about the room. After many years training as a soldier he was skilled at reasoning things out under pressure and pain, but this was testing his limits. His thoughts were being brushed aside, the noise and fiery hail raining through the skylight forgotten, as a single, simple need overtook him. It was partly an emotional, but mostly a physical hunger that burned through his mind and body. Divia saw the rising agony of his look and made her presence known to him. As his blazing eyes fell on her, Lucius snarled reflexively, a deep animal sound that no human could make. Although she did not fear him, she braced herself for what would come. Her powers were not strong yet and his rage and natural strength might overwhelm her. At this stage that would be fine, but in time she would be his complete master. Now, he would think he had taken her, made her his victim. He would learn the truth in short order. She watched as he struggled briefly to keep from giving over completely to the hunger. This was one battle the General would not win. She moved closer, driving his temptation to the edge. "You hesitate to kill me, I see. You *must* have loved me then," Divia taunted. Lucius nearly trembled as he was defeated by the compelling need to kill and feed. If it was to be his daughter foolish enough to appear like a sacrificial goat before him...then so be it! "You have brought this upon yourself, Divia!" he accused, giving up the fight. He was on her in an instant, brutally yanking her around to face him. "Yes, I have," she responded as calmly as possible, recalling just how true that statement was. ***** June, 79 A.D. She sat on the edge of the pool in the spacious atrium, listening to the steady flow of the fountain, and waiting for her father to return. As she watched, the water plunged over the edge of the dolphin's mouth, hitting the tesserae of the mosaic, distorting its intended beauty. She found she liked the newly formed patterns, which whirled and changed as the water churned, more than the original. There was a greater feeling of power in the chaos of the water than in the scene richly embellished with tiles. She did not have long to wait before the General appeared at the entrance to the room, wearing the paludamentum that clearly denoted his rank. He had returned from a meeting of the Legion's commanders at the Forum. She had anticipated wisely. He was alone for once, without that fool of a Proconsul hovering around, or some beauty from the willing throng of whores that her mother saw fit to employ. Even so, he probably would have gone past her if she hadn't called to him. "General," she spoke smoothly. Lucius stopped, slightly startled, and turned to look in her direction. "Divia! My dear, I'm sorry. My thoughts have been elsewhere." His look of repentance was almost sincere. "Your meeting did not go well?" she asked, feigning interest. Lucius glanced upwards in exasperation at the recent memory, "Sometimes it is impossible to make people see reason." She rose from beside the pool and walked slowly towards him. "If *you* could not convince them, then no one can. Do not worry yourself about it," she added reasonably. Lucius smiled at her simplicity, "I appreciate your confidence. But you must understand, I would not be in the position I am now if I followed that advice. One cannot give in simply because one is repelled after the first battle. To win the war takes relentless pursuit." Lucius briefly wondered why he was confiding this to a female. He sighed. Just another facet of an incredibly useless day. "You are tired then. I will bring you wine," she offered demurely. "Do not bother yourself with that. As much as I would like to forget this day with the gifts of Bacchus, I won't. While my opponents celebrate their victory, I will be productive in my thoughts," he explained, even less thrilled with the idea than he sounded. With the death of Vespasian, and succession of his son, came changes in the governing of the Empire, not all of them practical. Sometimes Lucius felt there were as many enemies in the service of Rome as there were outside it. He was of the firm belief that any man who did not know an enemy's phalanx from his own phallus was not to be trusted in the planning of a campaign. At least there was some comfort in knowing that once in the field the fight went smoothly. It was the arguing on how to get there that was the hell of it. Divia could tell her father was once again thinking of anything but her. She did not need him in this kind of mood. She tried looking depressed when his distracted gaze fell over her again. Finally her father's eyes cleared of worry as they focused completely on her. She walked closer to him and brightened her look a little. He smiled pleasantly down at her. She returned the smile but added something to its meaning with the skills Selene had taught her. Lucius watched her, realizing just how like her mother she was. Divia took the opportunity to move even closer to him, so that they were nearly touching. When he did not react, she pressed further, gently taking hold of his arm to pull him down to her level. He complied, fascinated by this turn of emotions. She had him on one knee before her, as if she were an Empress. It was here that she realized that all men really were fools at heart, just as her mother had said. To be used to her advantage whenever needed. She looked into his eyes, hoping to find that which she could use. As always his gaze was icy, but whether he intended this or not was never certain. Too many years commanding the forces of the Empire had made this lack of feeling natural. She brought her hand up to delicately touch the side of his face. There might have been a slight softening in his eyes, but of that she could not be sure. He did take her hand in his, carefully, and raised it to his lips, kissing it lightly. When he had released her hand, she turned and leaned back against him. Through the skylight she could see Orion in the heavens and smiled slightly at the thought of herself as a great hunter. She would ensnare the will of her prey. It was obvious that at the moment Lucius would go no farther than she would allow, but she was prepared for that to change. Men were fools, but also beasts. Her head resting against the base of his throat, she brought her arm up to encircle the back of his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist lightly, still letting her initiate the action. Divia laughed inwardly, delighted by how pathetically easy it would be to manipulate her father after this. Just one night and he would be hers. She stroked her fingers through the velvety hair at the base of his skull, and turned her head to kiss and nuzzle his neck. His pulse beat strongly against her ear as she lingered there. She disengaged herself from his embrace slightly to turn and look at him. In the dim light of the torches she saw more in his half closed eyes than most people had ever seen. She put everything Selene had taught her into a look that simply and exquisitely stated, "I want you." Her heart beat swiftly as he leaned down to kiss her with more passion than usual. ***** "Embers" by Diane Shea KerrRaven@aol.com part 3/3 ***** August 24, 79 A.D. Divia's heart beat not at all as her father glared down at her, neither seeing nor caring who it was before him. He was no more than a vicious animal now. This was also what she was, what she had been given. She worked to find strength against his coming attack in the power of her immortality. The power of Vesuvius had begun to reassert itself also, as the process of destruction continued. Soot from the burning volcano drifted down through the skylight, choking the fountain, and covering the dolphin in a fine layer of powder. The foundation shuddered. The sounds of breaking glass and crumbling stone replaced the mild flowing of the water. Both Divia and Lucius ignored the chaos around them, consumed as they were with the drama of the first hunger. Lucius gripped Divia's shoulders tightly. For all his snarling, he did not quite know what to do with her. She wondered if she had been like that, when she awoke for the first time to her new existence. Strangely, she could not recall any details of those first hours. It was probably for the best. Her father's new instincts were working, but her heart did not call to him, and he was not drawn to her blood as strongly as he would have been to a mortal's. She began to get impatient. "What do you think these are for?" she asked, and reached up to touch his newly formed fangs as he hissed at her. He caught her hand in his before she could complete her explanation, gripping her wrist tight enough that she could actually feel the pain. Holding back no longer, Lucius bent his daughter under him, crushing her to him in a deadly embrace. ***** June Divia smiled and felt a sense of triumph as she witnessed the emotions in her father's eyes. She gracefully slipped off her stola, letting it fall to the ground, and returned naked to his arms. With one hand he caressed her shoulder, trailing his fingers lightly down her arm, as he held her close with the other. Suppressing a shiver at his touch, she pressed herself against him. She enjoyed the warmth of his body on her bare skin, momentarily forgetting her purpose. She was supposed to seduce him, not the other way around. His lips brushed the back of her neck as he kissed her lightly. Try as she might, she couldn't keep from shivering as he breathed into her ear, "You are beautiful, my Divia. You will be like a goddess." "I will be your goddess," she agreed. She took his hand in hers and brought it to her mouth, kissing it. Then she moved away, holding his hand to her young breast. "Come with me," she commanded and pulled gently on his arm, coaxing him to follow her. He rose to his full height, his expression changing to amusement, and asked of her, "To where?" "To where you can enjoy my company fully," she said as coyly as one could. Moving his hand to her chin, he gently tilted her head upwards to look at him. "My dear, I cannot," he stated calmly. Doubt struck her like an arrow. "You do not love me?" she asked, skillfully hiding her anger. "Oh Divia, don't you see I do? It is just that you are still so young." Not to mention she was his daughter, Lucius refrained from adding. "I am old enough to marry!" Divia countered, forgetting her control. "Of course, since you will not acknowledge me as your daughter what chance do I have to marry someone worthy? Instead, I am simply the daughter of a whore!" "You possess a vicious tongue, my dear. Any man betrothed to you would have to watch his back." Lucius' tone was sharp. She stared coldly at him. "I am sorry," he said more softly. "It is not that I don't care about you and your mother, but my life does not have a place for a wife or child. I could be slain in the field at any time. I cannot divide my responsibilities like that. Perhaps later I will seek a family, but for now..." "For now, you will just enjoy my mother as much as you want," she accused. "Yes," he stated simply. Disgusted, she turned from him, taking the palla off the nearby lounge and wrapping it about herself. She would not give up this easily. "I could,..." she paused, turning to gaze at him maliciously, "...tell everyone the truth." She watched closely, trying to determine the truth of his feelings, regardless of his words. Lucius stood motionless for a few heartbeats, then his eyes took on a gleam of delight and, to Divia's chagrin, he laughed. "Is that truly what this is about? Know this, daughter, you have much to learn about coercion." Her anger flared at his words. He noted her hatred and continued, "For one thing, you should never try to bargain with one who could have you killed without question." Divia did not flinch at this, though she knew he could do it. "And for another," Lucius' grin widened, "never use as your secret weapon something which is already known by all." This time she was caught off guard. Still, she looked at him as if he were bluffing. "You have told them then?" she asked, uncertain. "I did not need to," he explained. "I have never been one skilled at keeping my indiscretions secret. Also, have you ever noticed there are not many as fair-haired as we about? Your lovely but dark-haired mother had not shown an interest in any other light-haired men besides me at that time. It is something we should have considered, but of course we did not. I could not have stopped speculation if I had wanted to." Lucius thought about it, and then continued, "I really have little need to worry. There is not much you can say about a General that will raise eyebrows these days. A scandal would probably help my reputation more than harm it, I should think." Divia was astonished at the way he brushed her threat aside. She knew she had lost. She gave him as withering a look as she dared. Then, without a word, she retreated behind the drapery into the tablinum, defeat compelling her to silence. Unfortunately, she had not gone far enough that she missed the newly arrived Proconsul's conversation with Lucius. "General, you look the worse for a night as fair as this," Flavius announced happily. "What troubles you?" "Flavius, why did I have to have a daughter?" Lucius asked quietly, in mock despair. "Perhaps because the feminine beauty of Selene could not be stifled. The gods felt it should be doubled," he replied in his slightly drunken logic. "And does my own manliness count for nothing?" Lucius asked jokingly. "Oh it does, but not yet. Selene is not the one to give you the son you desire," the Proconsul answered more seriously. "You are right," Lucius agreed. "If she had given me a boy I would have been more tempted to claim him fully. But that is not what I wanted. At least, not yet." Lucius' eyes were focused on something beyond the walls of the house, to a goal as yet unattainable. Divia had heard enough. Annoyed, she continued on to her rooms. She meant nothing to him, despite what he might tell her. She would have to find another way to obtain the power she would need to live prosperously. ***** August She had been successful in finding it. The one who was now her master had saved her from her illness. On the edge of death she had been given a new chance. With it came understanding, and the ability to control those who would have used her, had she still been mortal. *Had* Divia been mortal, her father would have broken her neck as he jerked her head to one side and bit into her throat. His curving teeth went deep into her carotid. The feeling of pain was ghostlike, more imagined than real. The feeling of pleasure, on the other hand, as Lucius took her slowly coursing blood into himself, was shockingly intense. If this was what her victims felt like as she drained them, they did not need to be called victims! Unfortunately, she was becoming weak, and they had to leave soon, before they were buried like the mortals. Pumice and ash rained down into the impluvium from above, the fiery embers sizzling as they hit the water. She tried to push him away, to free herself from his all encompassing hold on her, and found it was impossible. She realized that acting as if you were in charge, and actually being in control, were two completely different things, and decided a little help would not hurt. "Rhaneus," she called, as coherently as possible under the circumstances. For a moment she was afraid he wouldn't help her. Perhaps he figured it was her problem which she must deal with alone. Before she could worry about what that would mean, she felt pleasure become pain as a blur of color knocked into her father, tearing his fangs out of her flesh. The sound of growling filled the air, rivaling the clamor of the dying city. Before her, her master's servant held Lucius by the throat, ready to end the General's new existence if she wished it. He was probably the most frightening creature she had ever seen. His rage was ever active. His eyes burned brighter than hers or her father's, and when they fell on her, she could not help but cringe a little. This was what her master had ordered to protect her. Being brought into the dark world at such a young age was too dangerous to face alone, so he had placed Rhaneus to watch over her. Sometimes he outdid himself. Unfortunately, the General was not aware of the status of his attacker. As rational as a lion disturbed from its kill by hyenas, Lucius fought back. With an unnatural growl he struggled to free himself from her protector's crushing restraint. It was no contest as Rhaneus sank his much longer and sharper teeth into the back of the General's neck near the spine. Panic and hatred filled Lucius' mind, and Divia found she could feel these things through their newly formed bond. He hissed as Rhaneus bit down harder, tightening his hold. Unlike her father's and her own teeth, Rhaneus' were designed to inflict pain on their own kind as much as on mortals. As the blood flowed down Lucius' neck, Divia decided things had gone far enough. "Let him go," Divia commanded. Rhaneus hesitated, snarling his disapproval. It was obvious that the idea of keeping track of another new addition to their world was not to his liking. Perhaps fortunate for all of them, after the initial shock, Rhaneus' bite had a quieting effect on Lucius. The gold was slowly fading from his eyes. He now stood very still in Rhaneus' grip, the realization of what he and Divia were, and what was tearing into him, took up most of his concentration. Divia tried to reason with Rhaneus, "I did not go through this trouble to have you kill him, now did I?" An ancient creature himself, Rhaneus did not enjoy giving in to one so young. His instinct told him to drain the arrogant bastard in his arms. His charge did not know what she was getting herself into. Unfortunately, it was not his decision to make. He finally conceded to her wishes, removing his fangs from Lucius' neck and licking the blood that flowed from the wound. As he released him, Lucius closed his eyes and sank to his knees, momentarily weakened by the new loss of blood. Divia was not pleased with Rhaneus' actions, but she did not dare push it. "Thank you for your help. Go now and find a way for us to escape from this place. We cannot stay here." He gave her the slightest sign of acknowledgment and was gone. Relieved, she took the opportunity to go to her father and briefly explain the life he must now lead. There was too much to learn in such a short time, but it would have to suffice. ------------------------ ------------------------ Lucius had recovered quickly once Rhaneus had left. Divia repeated to him most of what her own creator had told her. "And we are truly eternal?" he asked with wonder. "Yes...father," she replied pointedly, taking his hand in hers. And, she thought to herself, he was eternally indebted to her. She saw little need to add this. His apprehensive look confirmed her suspicions. He had already realized that although she was his daughter, she was also his master. She traced a finger up along the inside of his arm, smiling with a hint of smug self-satisfaction. He stood by her, stoically allowing her to tease him, though not at all pleased with the way eternity was starting out. There was a low growl and flash of eyes as Rhaneus returned to her side. Lucius stepped back reflexively from the newly returned menace. Divia looked at Rhaneus, her question evident. He glanced sharply towards the skylight in the center of the room, indicating their path of escape. She was not sure she wanted to take it. Divia had maintained a hope that Rhaneus would know of an underground route through the city. Before, he had seemed to imply that he did. "Is there no other way?" she couldn't keep from asking. His impatience mounted and he snarled openly at her foolishness. A mental image flashed through her mind. The easy way out had been blocked by the lava flow. Flight would be their only choice. Divia quit arguing and turned to convince Lucius. "Come. The sun cannot show its face today, but we can't survive the mountain's fire anymore than that of the heavens. We must leave." His still human emotions warring between fear and disdain, Lucius was not thrilled with the idea of following Rhaneus anywhere. Divia looked up toward the way in which they would have to leave. The sky was black. The only light around them came from the torches, which were slowly being stifled as the oxygen was replaced by sulfurous vapors. Another tremor ran through the city. A column, supporting a large portion of the ceiling's weight, crumbled. She decided the only way to deal with the situation was simply to act. Lucius would have to learn the ways of their kind the hard way. Turning to Rhaneus, she gave him unspoken permission to do what he must. Then she turned from them both and disappeared into the tumultuous blackness. Without Divia to call off her pet mongrel, the General was at a loss. He had a choice between following his daughter into some hellish pseudo-night, trusting in a newly created instinct to make up for lack of experience in flying, or staying where he was, to possibly be torn apart by a beast more vicious than the coliseum bears. His eyes went gold from aggravation at the thought. Taking this as provocation, Rhaneus immediately lunged, rumbling his anger. Retreating slightly, the General snarled in answer, baring sharp teeth briefly, but doing no more than that. Even the lion knew when *not* to fight back. Especially if the bear had already proven his strength. Lucius glanced behind him, to where he would be forced to go. Rhaneus advanced, whatever patience he had possessed long since vanished. Closing his eyes in resignation, Lucius gave up. He turned his back on the ever growling monster and let instinct take over. Without a thought for the life he could never return to--the light and love that would never be his again--he focused his will on finding his creator. In a moment, he was gone, leaving Rhaneus to glare at empty space. The ancient one did not linger in the atrium of the dying establishment, in the middle of the dying city. The finality of death had no meaning to him. Pompeii was simply another ending. Watching out for Divia, and warring with Lucius, would be another beginning. It was an endless cycle, and he had little patience for any of it. Rhaneus hissed at the general state of the world, and then followed after those whom his master had bade him watch over. ------------------------ ------------------------ Ash, white as power, steadily took the place of the living in Pompeii. Those not dead were trapped, to be finished off later by suffocation, starvation, or insanity. The dog, its death unnoticed by the rest of the doomed inhabitants, was surrounded by ash and entombed. ------------------------ ------------------------ Amidst the darkness, two pairs of glowing embers paused to watch the final destruction. A third pair, brighter than the others, continued on without a glance. Divia and Lucius, for different reasons, thought of a woman with compelling eyes and raven-black hair. The moment held a lifetime of emotion, shared by father and daughter, and the last they would experience for a millennium or more. The wind picked up, scattering the ashes of humanity from their minds, as it did from Pompeii. In time, even the embers had faded, and nothing existed in the eternal city of ruin.