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Pompeii 

(Historical Romance)

By

Nicole Louw

 

Pompeii

 

The year is 79AD, the time of the Roman Empire, where slaves meant no more to the master than that of a symbol to his status and wealth. Slaves had no rights, and many would find themselves in the homes of the rich and harsh. This is the life of the slaves:

the life of Flavia, a young woman whom who was captured and forced to become a

slave to Juliunus and his family.

 

A few weeks after her enslavement, Juliunus’ son, Velerus, returns from a visit to

Rome and is captivated by Flavia’s beauty and spirit.

 

Juliunus does all he can to try and protect the family name, but the love that Flavia and Velerus share is strong. As the relationship grows, their love for the other are not only threatened by the wealthy, but a far greater enemy that lurks beneath the mountain of

Vesuvius...

 

 

Pompeii

Chapter 39: Vesuvius has erupted and secrets are revealed

 

“Velerus,” Asilia began, “I didn’t mean it to turn out this way.”

“What does that mean, Asilia?” The man asked. “If you didn’t mean it, then why did you send someone all the way to Herculaneum to speak with my father?”

     “Because you lied to me.

     Velerus frowned.

     “You told us you and Flavia were traveling. Well, I could see that wasn’t true, so I just wanted to find out why you were lying to me.

     Velerus sighed in frustration and walk up to the red-haired woman. He stood tall as he looked down at her.

     “When someone lies to you in that way,” he said, “it’s probably because they have a secret that they do not wish to share, and a friend should respect that secret.”

Asilia felt like running into the chaos outside and hope that she would be trampled by a wave of panicked people. She looked away from his brown eyes that flickered in the light of a nearby candle, deeply ashamed of her actions. “Flavia lied to you!” She suddenly blurted, hoping to have the man’s eyes taken off her. “She lied to you Velerns!”

     The young man turned to Flavia then back to her. “Never would she lie to me.” Flavia held her breath, knowing what was coming, and at the thought of it, her heart twisted.

     “She lied to you!” Asilia repeated. “Hereldus spoke to your father, who revealed everything to him before he left. Flavia is a slave! How could you fall in love with a slave?”

Velerus felt himself tighten. “She is no slave,” he began.

     “She is!” Asilia interrupted and Flavia felt herself cringe. “Born to a slave and grew up as a slave!”

     Velerus turned to look at Flavia, who was now retreating from his icy gaze into the shadows. He frowned. Was it true? Had she lied to him all the while?

     “Flavia?” His voice sounded harsh to her. “Is this true?”

     The young woman felt her world caving in. The stare that the man was giving her was a stare she had seen Juliunus’ son give in the past, but never had she seen it come from the man she loved. What was she to do now?

     “Velerus, please.” She begged. “I did not want to tell you...”

     “Tell me this is not so, Flavia?”

     “You see?” Asilia suddenly called to him from behind. “This woman cares nothing for you, only her own freedom!”

     “Keep your tongue to yourself, Asilia!” Velerus shouted to her in a deep voice that Flavia could not help but cringe to. He looked back to Flavia. “Is it true?”

     “True that I am a slave, yes.” She dimmed her head in a respectful manner. “True that I do not love you, no.” then she raised her head to meet his gaze. “I did not wish to tell you, fearing that you would leave me. My apologies, Velerus, but I feared to tell you the truth of my past.”

     The man took a step towards her, feeling a familiar feeling come to him, that of anger and revenge. “All you told me was a lie?” He asked harshly before she cowered back as though expecting him to hit her.

     “No.” She muttered through the coming of tears. “All I told you was true. I simply did not tell you all the truth. My mother was a slave, as was everyone else in the family. My father was killed by the master and we did settle on a man’s farm after our own escape.” She bowed her head again. “It was the guards that killed my mother and brother. They were going to kill me, that is why I ran away.”

Velerus could not speak or move, too surprised at the woman’s words. He gazed back to Asilia, at her satisfied expression and felt more anger than he had thought possible.

     Suddenly the captain of the guard rushed up to the young woman, grabbing her by the wrists so tightly that Flavia let a painful scream pass her lips. Velerus looked on motionlessly. The large man pulled her into the candle light. “How should I punish her?” He asked his master coldly while holding Flavia cruelly.     “The death penalty?” He suddenly reached for the knife that was at Terentius’ belt.

     “No!” Velerus shouted as load as he could, but still the large man filed to hear him. Velerus jumped at him, grabbing at his hand that held the knife. The captain growled as he fought himself free from his grip. Asilia had retreated to the corner with her husband, who was also looking on in horror.

     “She is not more that a slave, Velerus!” He told at the young man who was trying to restrain him from killing the woman.

     “I do not care, captain.” Velerus hissed back. “I love her. Let her go! That is an order!”

     A surprised look washed over the captain’s face as he let go of the woman’s wrists.

     Once Flavia was released, Velerus went to her and quickly put his arms around her. The feel of her immediately broke his anger and he took her hand in his, smiling gently in understanding. Every time she touched or looked at him in that special way she had, his anger seemed to melt away into leaving only feelings of love and respect, making him feel that he should not waste his time on the past.

     The commander stepped away from the wall to Asilia and Terentius at Velerus’ command.