I
Remus folded his hands behind his back. He watched carefully at the young born baby. The parents named him Aurelius. He is an infant and he shall never know of the power he posses. Only Remus is the only one who shall control it. Rome shall not fall. Remus knew he must be strategic about this.
Augustus approached the great emperor, surprisingly striding over with such bold dignity. Augustus dressed in rags. The Emperor looked at him sharply. This doesn’t fade Augustus as he is too delighted at the birth of his son.
“Emperor, how is my wife doing? And my son? I thank you for your open arms.”
Remus does not smile. “They are all fine. Please, have a seat.” Remus doesn’t say it with malice nor kindness.
Augustus lowers his head and retreats off, disappointed that at the time he cannot see his son and his beloved wife.
Remus turns around and enters the room where the newborn baby and his mother are. Remus turns to his nurses and he motions them to leave. They step out through the curtain, to leave him be, all alone with no one as a witness, and no one to know the truth.
The woman was sleeping, trying to catch up and relax, clearly exhausted. Remus smiled coldly. This will be easier then he has expected. Remus pulled out his dagger, twirled it around a few times admiring it. The silver of the knife gleamed and sparkled in the room. Remus stopped finally deciding he had enough of playing, like a child. He has more important matters to attend to.
Remus approached the sleeping woman and holds the knife up to her throat. He can feel the sharpness of the blade press up against her soft, fragile skin, her throat. Without any doubts, the great Emperor slits her throat and runs it deep into her before she can scream of any pain. A streak of blood spilled out. Now he was left with a dead mother full of blood. He called in his trusty servant, Claudius. The servant rushes in.
“Emperor.” The old man bows deeply.
“Take her. Dispose of her. Let no one see. If so, if any speculation from anyone, it’ll be your head.”
Claudius bowed respectfully. He is used to these threats and not afraid. He lifts up the woman and carries her away to never be seen again. Remus turned, stepping out to the nurses. “Take care of this mess.”
They both bow. Remus walks to Augustus. He approached him and the man eyes light up.
“She did not pull through,” Remus spoke as if it wasn’t a lie and it is but the truth. His voice did not crack. He met his gaze challengingly, with confidence. This was not the first time he lied, nor will it be his last. Augustus lowered his head, tears already skimmed the surface of his skin. “As for your son, he is malnourished. We must keep him here for a while if you wish he pushes through. As for you, tomorrow you will compete in the gladiator duel.”
Augustus, at this, stands up. “I can’t,” He protested, not addressing his ruler properly.
Remus glared at Augustus as his nostrils flared.
“Sir, my son; he has no mother, and I can’t be-”
“I am your emperor, I decide, do you dare go against me? I could have your head slain off if I wish,” He boomed. Remus wants too, but he can’t pull out his dagger out. It still has the fresh blood of Augustus’s wife.
Augustus finally bowed while he got down on one knee. Remus did not acknowledge it.
“I trust you to be there when the sun is at its highest, yes?” Remus didn’t mutter another word. Augustus should know the punishment would be death, where he has a chance. Remus, however, would not let him survive. This shall be no ordinary match. “Leave,” Remus ordered.
Without a second thought, Augustus did so. Remus watched him till he was out of sight then turns to see the baby. Claudius is there by his side.
“Take the baby. Do not bring him to my meeting, take care of him till I inform you more. No troubles?” Claudius shook his head. “Good, then you have nothing to worry.”
The young Emperor met with his council. He will not tell the truth about his parents, but a story they shall believe. Remus sat at the head and folds his arms. He is, of course, the last to enter.
“News of Avitas death of a newborn is not an unusual case, this happens often, and for a time now Augustus chose to participate in the tournament. He is not allowed to back up now, considering it is tomorrow. So he must find a place for the baby.” Remus spoke monotonously.
Remus wished he can kill the young child himself, but he can’t. With another death, it will get suspicious. He needs order. He needs a reason. He will kill him at a later time, but it must be strategic.
“Fortunately.” He continued. “There is plenty that must be needed for slavery. That way he can work up to earn money to be a free man when he is allowed. I suppose a newborn will not be able to work, but when he is young he shall be apprenticed. That is my final decision. No persuasion. Now others you want to discuss?” He addresses his council, with arms stretching wide open plastering a fake smile on him.
For the remainder of the meeting, they talked about the merchants across the empire, the guards surrounding the empire, the water, and war on the southern border with Cleopatra’s army. The council and the Emperor were dismissed and he sets plans for Augustus’s execution.
After he made his way to the great Colosseum. Remus stared at it. He’s proud of how his ancestors built this arena. It towers the surrounding buildings. He still can’t believe that the Colosseum fell and the great Roman Empire had died. The Emperor shook his head. He wouldn’t let that happen. He shall be the only one with this power. Romans were successful and their longevity has left them strong, but he would not make the same mistakes other rulers did. He would make Aurelius life suffer till the time to kill him.
Remus enters the Colosseum. He nodded at his guards once to both then looked ahead and walked into the grounds. He stared at it amazingly.
The Emperor visits the cage and peered inside at the ravaging wolf. The wolf bares its teeth, ready to fight. Remus noted that it would be a good fighter even if he chose not to feed it until it had its kill. This shall go fast, painless? Doubtful.
“Till tomorrow.” The great Emperor snickered, walking out without a word at his guards, not even acknowledging that they stood by him.
Late morning was finally when the Emperor awoke. His servants were there to change him into a purple toga: with gold beading around his head, like a crown, but not quite. Remus slid into his sandals while he ordered his servants to leave at once. He then exited his room to head to the great event.
Augustus should have been thankful that he had the ability to walk on his own; not with guards, and not with chains shackled to his wrists and ankles, for the Emperor isn’t always that generous. Augustus stood in the middle of the Colosseum awaiting the Emperor. He dressed in the usual gladiator attire. Sandals, cape, and armor. Remus stared at him unimpressed. Augustus is given no weapon.
“Sir, this is a battle. I just need to protect myself,” Augustus pleaded.
At this Remus pulled out his sword, pointing it at his throat while gently pushed on his delicate skin just like he once did to his wife, Avita.
“You once already questioned me, and yet a second time. I will not allow a third. I am your Emperor,” Remus expressed with as much hatred at the end drawing the faintest of blood, a small wound that would heal in time for the fight, just like his wife a day ago. No spectator would see.
He turned to Claudius walking up behind him. Claudius bowed stretching out the weak spear to the emperor. Remus grabbed it carelessly. It was a dull tip and if lucky, will only scrape the top layer of the wolf. It would be near impossible to hurt the wolf to that it would be a game changer, let alone killing the beast. Augustus had no chance. The emperor hands it to Augustus. He took it, finally, as his fingers moved slowly, clasping around the rough handle of the spear, for once to take it without uttering a word. Remus walked out leaving the man trapped until his death. He would see him in another three hours.
The Emperor approached his seat next to lovely ladies all surrounded where his seat is. This reminded him he must find a wife. As he inspected all these ladies made him want to take him to his bed, not marry, not yet. He admired each of the five ladies. He needed a strong, confident wife. Before Remus can think more about the ladies that surround him he his announced by Claudius.
“The great Emperor Remus II.”
The ‘second’ part of his title made him feel inferior. The second, not the first, not the last, but the next best. The emperor forced a smile to his people, now showed no hint of hate. He waved a hand out to his people then sat next to the giggling five woman. They leaned into him sitting so close, leaned over him that the Emperor was torn on the affection. Claudius goes on to once again give a speech of the Roman Empire and the entertainment held there, thanked Remus, but most importantly all of the emperors in the Roman Empire in general.
The crowd cheers. “Long live Remus! Long live Rome and the wonderful empire!” The chant echoes and Remus knows that all around Rome will hear.
“Let the gladiator games begin!” Claudius announced at the end of the cheering
Augustus entered the arena. The cage was lifted and while the Emperor relaxed everyone leaned forward. There are plenty of “ohs” and “ahs” heard.
The cage isn’t lifted all the way and the vicious wolf attacks. From up in the stands the emperor can see its fangs ready to bite the flesh of him. For now, Augustus played defense-dodged and hoped enough out of the way, then ran when he had to.
The crowd and Remus were quite disappointed when the wolf nor Augustus didn’t strike one another, but this is all part of the tradition: corner the opponent before the kill. The beast, however, doesn’t know this; he is trained to kill, ready to kill. The Emperor watched in amazement as those two just ran around, like children. How was it possible that Augustus is doing this? With what he has given and the circumstance he should have been already bleeding, or dead. Instead, neither was the case, and that infuriates Remus.
Finally, Augustus found a chance to strike at the ravaging wolf, but the wolf anticipated this and lunged into the line of the spear to catch it perfectly in its teeth. It clamped down on it like it had swords as teeth. It shattered out of its mouth but bits remain as the wolf tried to get it out; the wolf only does so after some grunts.
Augustus had no weapon to remotely defend or attack, nor shield to buy himself time to think of another option. Augustus was helpless, defenseless, and soon would be dead. No one gasps, but a handful is heard cheering at the savage animal. The beast snarls and lunges at Augustus. He dives out of the way. The canine missed-but not by much.
The animal was on all fours before the gladiator managed to stand on his two feet. The wolf snatched for his opponent, this time successfully grabbed Augustus. The creature towered the gladiator as he laid down trapped and gazed into the eyes of his soon to be killer. The wolf dug his claws into the legs of the gladiator, drew a great amount of blood, which the crowd erupted into cheers finally they saw blood. The monster crept up on his prey, gliding his claws up to his face. Each second Augustus wriggled, crying out in pain. The wild animal could no longer hold itself back as he is starved so much he lunged for his flesh, ripping the gladiator’s chest open; spilling his guts for all to admire. The crowd cheered as a smile spread’s across Remus’s face. The gladiator still cried in horrifying pain. Remus knows this isn’t the right way to go to the gods, but it must be done like this. Augustus’s son is a threat to society.
Remus turned to the girls. He gave them each a peck on the cheek. He no longer needed to be here, to see what happened next. In another few minutes, Augustus will be dead and nothing more than a memory. A memory at best, many will forget all but Remus. To forget his worries for now he dragged the ladies with him, all the way back to his palace and in his bedroom. Here he would relax with each one, and if he wished for none of them to be his wife then they will not return; they will be left in the dust, almost like gladiators. They will still live, unlike many gladiators, but they will be forgotten to him the next morning.
Before he had any fun, Remus last thought is of the young child; Aurelius the parents called him-his dead parents. He shall be sold as a slave, then once of age he will sign up for the gladiator games, and like his father, he shall live the same painful death. Then Rome would not be threatened, nor will never be. He will not have an heir to inherit his powers and only the emperors’ will. Rome will flourish. His eyes darken and all he wants to do is forget about the women and sharpen his knife and take care of the child now. To put his deadly plans into action.
That is until a girl wraps her delicate arms around him tugging at his toga, kissing his cheeks. All of his worries are washed away of young Aurelius until decades later.
