Nessa Pov

The next morning I woke up with a bright light shining in my face. Turning I open my eyes and realize where I am. I'm in my office, oh right last night and the. Oh. I think and then put my hand to my lips. He kissed me! That big oversized ape kissed me! Standing up I run out of my office and to the exhibits. All of them were in their proper position. Looking through I was looking for Hercleth which meant I had to go to the Gladiators sections.

That's where I found him, he was standing in a stance as if he were taking a blow to his sword from another gladiator's sword. He was exactly as I remembered blond long hair, rather large muscles and his eyes, those blue eyes that no one could forget no matter how hard they tried.

"You're real." I say as I look at him.

"He was once upon a time." I hear John's voice call out to me which shocks me and makes me to turn around to see him. "Slept here last night Red?"

"Oh uh yeah, I guess you could say that." I say as I walk up to John.

"You look awful, you sure you don't wanna go home and get some real rest?" John asks as he looks me over.

"Nah, I'm fine I just wish I would have gone home last night." I say as I follow John to the office.

Later that day at lunch Penelope decides to buy something for me and bring it to my office, I was surprised but grateful. She began to tell me about the museum and why it wasn't opened until now but never did I hear her mention anything at all about a curse. Was it all a dream? Had I just seen that certain gladiator and he became stuck in my mind?

"So will you help me with that tonight, it shouldn't take long." Penelope asks regaining my attention.

"Help with what?" I question.

"Costumes, tomorrow is a big event for the museum we all get to dress up. You will be ancient Roman of course." She tells me with a wink.

"Yeah, sure I'll help as much as I can." I reply and continue to eat my food.

Just as the museum was closing Penelope and I were hard at work, sorting out costumes and prizes making sure each team member had the right size clothing and all that fun stuff. I wasn't surprised when she told me to try on my costume. It was beautiful and hand made by someone in the town. It was white and looked like I would be royalty back in Ancient Rome.

"Oh can't forget the crown." Penelope said as she put it one my head. "Perfect, oh I forgot a box though, you ok for about an hour I have to go hunt for it through storage."

"Yeah, I'm good." I laugh as she runs out of the conference room.

My curiosity got the better of me now, I walked out of the conference room and took the stairs to Ancient Rome. I didn't hear anything or see anyone so I just sighed as I act as though I was going to my office.

"Nessa?" I heard a male voice call out.

Turning around I was surprised to see Hercleth looking down at me. A part of me couldn't believe it. No matter what excuse I came up with here he was standing right before me. A real life man at least for the moment he was.

"Hercleth. You kept your promise." I said as I just stared at him.

"You're looking beautiful." He said as he looked at my costume.

"Oh, it's for a thing tomorrow, I'm from the Ancient Rome department so this is what I got." I say with a shrug as I look down at it.

"It suits you, would you care to know what I do?" he asks me and my mind answers quickly.

"Yes, please." I answer.

Taking me over to the window I can see his face turn serious.

"My warriors and I as well as some others of the Roman army were cursed thousands of years ago. An enchantress told us that because of our foul deeds and the death of others were would be doomed to walk the world only during the night as we attacked when we were truly alive. We became the things you see during the day but when the sun goes down we turn back to ourselves." He explains to me, and I feel sorry for him and the others. "That is one rumor we have heard though apparently we were also cursed along with our enemies."

"Well didn't she say there was a way to break it or something?" I ask just wondering how this would all end if possible.

"The one of a true pure heart bearing the mark of her ancestors would be able to set us free if one of us won her heart from her and she gave it to them willingly." He answered.

"Mark? What do you mean like a tattoo or something like that?" I question wanting to know more.

"A birthmark, one that was given by the gods and cannot be removed." He tells me as he takes my wrists and turns it so we can both see my birth mark. "One just like this one."

Shock goes throughout my whole body. Me? My birthmark is the mark. How in the world is that even possible? Heck how in the world is this whole curse even possible? Looking to Hercleth I can see that he is dead serious.

"Isn't there someone else? I mean I'm not exactly the romantic type of girl." I confess with a shrug.

"I will not force you to do anything but no there is no other, we have waited for you for centuries." He tells me and I can see true sadness in his eyes. "You have as much time as you need."

Wow talk about of information in a small setting. Just then I can hear someone downstairs calling my name. I quickly look to Hercleth.

"Go so she doesn't see you." I say as I run to the stairs and Hercleth runs off somewhere.

"There you are, come on last of the costumes and right here. Just set them up with the name tags of who they go to then we can go home." Penelope said linking arms with me and heading back downstairs.

Now I had a lot of thinking to do.