Decius' house loomed before him as he spurred his horse through the gates. Sunlight illuminated the stately structure. After the war, the Numas House had been rebuilt on the foundation of the old one, a vivid reminder of Sipio's old words insisting that Numas House was not dead, not while Decius lived.

And to think I had thought I would see Gravium's throat before I saw my house rebuilt, Decius had thought on first walking the halls of the structure. I had claimed then that my house was the Underworld.

Now, all he thought was fear and worry. He had known of Lucius' lingering dislike of the Ascantal species. They had, after all, murdered his father before his eyes. But he had thought all of his hatred had been drained by the numerous proscriptions, left to wither and die with the execution of his enemies.

But here they were, five years later, and Lucius was plotting what sounded like a massacre.

Decius dismounted, passing his reins to a slave before hurrying inside. He needed to find Minerva, to speak to her about precautions. He didn't think Lucius would dare lay a finger on his wife or children, but she had family, friends, whom Lucius might not think twice about having proscribed. He still held a grudge against Casarion House, despite their now being allied with the throne.

Lucius must be stopped.

Decius needed to send a letter to Vican, the only other Furian who would dare oppose Lucius. The former imperator may have been retired, but the threat of a massacre against half of Fure's citizens would draw him out, at least to give advice.

Decius cared deeply about his brother, but he couldn't allow him to massacre an entire species. With a sinking heart, he realized he might have to rally his soldiers against the throne and depose Lucius. I can't do that. He is my brother, and I placed him there.

But I did not realize the depth of his hatred at the time, or how it would refuse to die with his true enemies.

"Decius," Minerva greeted, sweeping toward him. Her jet black hair gleamed in the morning light, coiled on the nape of her neck. Her dark eyes smiled at him as she clasped her arms about his neck and kissed him lightly. "You left early."

"I had a meeting with Lucius," Decius said gravely. "Where is Tiberias?"

"Plautus took him to the tutor," Minerva told him, her eyebrows furrowing in concern at his tone. "Why?"

"Lucius said some things today," Decius said quietly. "About the Ascantals. He still views your people with hatred, even after all these years of peace between us. I do not know precisely what he plans, only that it is wrong. I want to make sure you and our children are safe."

"Safe from your own brother?" Minerva asked tremulously.

"I am afraid so," Decius said. "You didn't hear him, Minerva, and thank Augustus for that. He is allowing his hate to destroy him from the inside, and I will have to take some measures, as imperator. But I want you away from Fure, I want you safe. Gather some things and take the children to Vican, with a letter. He will shelter you while I dethrone my brother."

Minerva covered her mouth, the blood draining from her face. "It's that serious?"

Grimly, Decius nodded. "It is. I believe he plans a massacre, and I will not allow him to kill half the people in Fure." Turning, he called for one of the slaves. "Go to the tutor Tacitus and retrieve Tiberias immediately. Go quietly, return quietly. Do not draw attention to either you or the boy."

The slave nodded and left the room quickly as Decius turned back to Minerva. "Minerva, go get Diana. I will escort you out of the city and send you on to Vican with a letter."

His wife nodded and turned, hurrying away as Decius strode resolutely to his study. Vican needed a full account of events, he needed to know Decius' plan. I may have given Lucius the throne, but that doesn't mean I will stand by and watch him slaughter an innocent species, just because he believes they may turn on him someday.

Decius quickly penned a letter to Vican, informing the former imperator about what Lucius seemed to be planning. "I am afraid he intends to massacre all Ascantals remaining in Fure. The only course I see before me is to dethrone Lucius before he puts his plan into action. I pray Augustus and the gods stand behind me in my endeavor, and I can only hope you do, as well. This letter accompanies Minerva and the children. I do not think Lucius will yet stoop to kill my family, but I wish to be safe."

"Decius," Minerva called from the door. She held Diana in her arms, the girl's eyes wide and frightened. "We are ready, but Tiberias has not yet returned from the tutor's."

Decius rose, unease gathering in his stomach. "I will go look for him. Wait here."

He left the house, resting his hand on his sword hilt. It was all he could do to keep to a fast walk and not break into a run. He needed to maintain some sense of calm, even though he was anything but. Tiberias may not have been his biological son, but Decius cared for the boy deeply, just like he was his own son.

It reminded him of his younger self and Sipio.

They are just delayed, Decius told himself firmly. They are only delayed. Please, Augustus, let them only be delayed. Verula, protect your own from Lucius' wrath.

It felt odd, invoking the Ascantals' god, but Tiberias was Ascantal pureblood, after all. Decius kept murmuring the prayers over and over again, his heart quickening even though his pace could not.

Please, let him be safe. Let my family be safe.

Decius heard a scream.

Self-control was abandoned as Decius broke into a sprint, his heart pounding and filling his blood with adrenaline and fear. He turned a corner and skidded to a halt, a yell of grief and rage getting stuck in his throat, nearly choking him.

Scattered across the road, eyes wide in blank stares and blood covering their tunics and the paving stones, Ascantal corpses littered the area. Several soldiers stood nearby, their blades bloodied from their recent use.

"Stop!" Decius ordered. "By order of your imperator, I command you to cease what you're doing!"

One of the soldiers looked at him. "King Lucius is our imperator now, not you, Decius Numas."

A chill ran down Decius' spine. He knew I would never agree with him. But how did he move so quickly?

Lucius must have been planning this for months.

Decius glanced down and his heart almost stopped.

Lying among the corpses was a small Ascantal boy, no more than eight years old. Decius recognized Tiberias, the tablet he had so dutifully copied lessons on crushed beneath him, stained with his blood.

Decius wanted to scream, to cry, to kill every soldier within the vicinity. He wanted to take his sword and kill Lucius for doing this to an innocent boy, his son. But his years of training kicked in and Decius inhaled, seeking to control his anger and sorrow.

I need to think clearly. I need to think clearly.

Stepping forward, Decius scooped and picked up the limp body of Tiberias. The unnatural stillness of the boy broke his heart yet again, but he steeled himself. The least he could do was bury Tiberias properly and prevent Lucius from burning his body.

"What are you doing?" one of the soldiers snapped.

Decius turned and looked at the soldier, his gaze hard. "This is my adopted son. I am taking his body for burial."

The soldier went to protest but one of his comrades laid a hand on his arm, nodding to Decius. Sympathy shone in his eyes. He knew very well who he was talking to, that the king's own brother's family hadn't been spared in the massacre. "Go," he bid him.

Decius turned and hurried away, clasping Tiberias' form to his chest, the blood staining his tunics. The human bystanders, their own faces drawn and pale, watched in silence. The slave Decius had sent to retrieve Tiberias and the slave that had taken him to the tutor's both stepped out of the crowd, falling in silently behind their master. There was nothing to say; there was nothing they could have done to have saved Tiberias.

Minerva screamed when Decius entered the house, clapping her hands over her mouth. "Tiberias," she sobbed, reaching out to touch the dark curls on her son's head. "Decius, what happened to him?"

"The massacre has already begun," Decius said heavily, setting Tiberias down on a couch, gently positioning the boy's head on a pillow. Carefully, he closed the boy's eyes, hiding their sightless stare. "I should have gone to retrieve him myself. I could have protected him, I could have saved him!"

Minerva didn't reply, just continued to cry. Decius turned to her and pulled her close, her body shuddering from the force of her grief. Diana, huddled on the ground, stared at her brother with tears trailing down her cheeks, knowing something was wrong if not exactly what. Her eyes were large and frightened.

"Imperator."

The voice echoed in the chamber from behind them and Decius spun, hand going to his sword. A lone soldier stood there at attention, keeping his hands away from his weapon. "I am Marcus Octavius, of the Fifth Legion. I have come to offer my services to you." His eyes blazed. "My loyalty lies with you, not with the king."

"Why did you come here?" Decius questioned, positioning himself in front of Minerva, who had snatched up Diana and now held the little girl tightly.

"I come because the king has ordered a massacre of the Ascantals and declared that you have been stripped of your position and title," Octavius answered. "I know your family is Ascantal, sir. The king did not seem in a mind to spare them, so I defected from my unit and came here to you. I have several comrades who feel the same and we all put ourselves at your service. We are under your command. I swear it by Augustus and his mighty scepter."

"Can you get my wife and daughter out of the city?" Decius asked quietly. "Can you bring them to safety?"

Octavius lifted his head. "I will, or I will die trying. I swear on the graves of my ancestors, of the Octavius family, that I will protect them with my life or else relinquish it into your hands."

Decius turned to Minerva, gripping her shoulders. He'd made his decision; there was no other way. "You must flee Fure, before Lucius has his soldiers come here to kill you. Take Diana. Go to Vican's villa and give him this letter." He turned to the soldier. "Go swiftly, go quietly. May Augustus guide your footsteps and your blade in protection of my family."

"You go not with them, Imperator?" Octavius questioned. Instantly, he bowed his head in regret. "My apologies, I mean not to question your actions."

"I do not go," Decius told him. "I need to stop Lucius."

"Forgive me, but you will not stop the king by yourself," Octavius said quietly. "Trust me, please, sir. You would be better off to flee."

Decius hesitated, considering. He wanted nothing more to leave with his family, to make sure they were safe, but then who would help the remaining Ascantals? He couldn't stand by and watch an entire species fall to the hatred of one man. No, he needed to stay, if only to learn what he could do to help, to stop Lucius.

"I will stay," he repeated. "Go."

"Tiberias," Minerva said softly, stretching her hand out to her dead son. "What about him?"

"I will bury him," Decius said softly, embracing Minerva and kissing her cheek. "Go, my love. I will see you again, if Augustus wills it. May Verula protect you." Gently, he took Diana from her and hugged his daughter, kissing her forehead. "Be a good girl for your mother, Diana."

Diana nodded as Minerva took her back. Decius wrapped a traveling cloak about them and watched as Octavius guided them out the back. He could only hope and pray he'd see them again.

---

Decius was alone when Lucius entered the chamber, the same chamber he had bid farewell to his family in. Only the blood on the sofa marked what had happened; Tiberias was now buried out back, Decius having dug the hole himself for his adopted son, filling it with dirt and bitter tears.

"Lucius," Decius greeted, somehow managing to maintain an even tone. Lucius gestured for his guards to step aside as he approached his older brother.

"Where are Minerva and Diana? I know Tiberias is dead."

"I know not," Decius said. "When I returned with my son's body, Minerva and Diana had already fled."

"You didn't look for them?"

"Of course I didn't. I don't want my wife and daughter dead. I speak honestly. I know not where they are. Only that they are not here."

Lucius scowled. "You lie."

Decius stood. "I do not know where Minerva or Diana are."

Lucius glared at him. "They are guilty, Decius. I hope you someday grow to understand that." The king turned, sweeping out of the room as his guards fell into step behind him. Decius watched him go, his heart hardening.

His brother was too far gone – there was no saving him.

---

A week passed and Decius heard no news concerning Minerva's flight. During the day, he stayed within his house; at night he visited local taverns to learn what news he could.

After the initial massacre, resulting in the slaughter of hundreds of Ascantal men, women, and children, the killings had slowed down but the fear had only grown. Decius knew the Ascantals had gone into hiding, waiting for their chance to flee Fure into the countryside where their odds of survival were greater. But other than that, he learned very little.

On the eighth night after the massacre began, Decius rode back from the taverns and headed wearily inside, keeping his hand on his sword hilt. Despite his Ascantal ties, no one had touched or even harassed him so far. Lucius must have given orders to leave him alone, for whatever reason.

Decius accepted a lamp from a slave and stepped into his bedchamber. As the light flickered over the room, it caught on something odd, draped across the bed.

It was Minerva.