What was meant to be a happy reunion with his family after eleven long years of being apart from them now looks like a funeral. His mother was crying softly by a corner of the ¹atrium. His family was fairly upper class and was privileged to own a ²Domus.
"Flavius, you can't have your son bring death to us all. He has to take that girl back where he found her before the High Priestess finds out. She can't stay here," her mother whispered fearfully as if someone could hear them if she speaks any lounder.
"What Priestess, Mother?" Luciano asked, confusion sitting clearly on his raised brows.
"Aquilia, it will be wise to refrain from speaking such words. We have guests amongst us, and as much as this matter is dire, it cannot merely be decided upon by a show of feminine tantrums" his father sharply rebuked.
His mother quietened down at his father's words. She understands her husband without him needing more words to explain. He was subtly telling her to know her place as a woman, and more so as his wife. He will make a decision, but it will not be forced out of him in the presence of guests, nor will he be snared by his wife's present unstable emotions to not consider the matter well before taking a fitting solution to the matter at hand. People often decide in haste and according to their emotions, but emotions are fleeting. If one were to make a sound judgment on that alone, who knows how a matter can go from bad to worse.
The silence was palpable as everyone pondered the situation they were in in their minds. The two soldiers that returned with him sat by a corner since they do not understand fully what was going on. From the moment they arrived, all they could hear was the mention of a certain Priestess and someone probably named Haddon whom the lady of the house seemed to fear so much. In any case, they were guests of the household and have no right to interfere in the private matters of a family. Besides, they were not even from this city so they can't get involved in affairs that have nothing to do with them. At the dawn of light, they will continue on their way, and may never come to meet again in the future.
"Maximus, take your brother's guests to the remaining ³cubicula reserved for visitors and have them rest from their journey. If they require a meal, have Lydia fix them something. It's the middle of the night but I'm sure there should be some leftovers from dinner tonight that will do."
"Yes, Father."
"Accept our gratitude sir," the two men both whispered before walking out with Maximus.
Seeing as the two men have left, Luciano stood up as well. "Father, I'll go see if my carriageman and the lady are well looked after."
"No Luciano. We have trusted servants watching over them since both are unconscious. There are immediate matters that require our attention now. Perhaps we should converse in the ⁴tablinum."
It wasn't a request. It was his father's way of enforcing his °patria potestas. His father approached his mother where she sat. He took her hands and helped her up from the stool.
"Aquilia, calm your mind. Do not trouble yourself with matters of the future now. The things that happen only happen because the gods allow it, and we mortals can do nothing more than to entreat them for good favour." He kissed her hands, consoling the woman he loved since the moment he set eyes on her. She stood in silence with tears in her eyes.
"Daughter, help your mother to her bedchamber." He dismissed his wife and daughter.
"Luciano, walk with me."
It was nearing the hour of two in the morning. The night was dark and eerie. The whole city looked dead with no signs of human life and activity. Luciano, Maximus and their father put the last soil over the graves of the mauled bodies that he had brought along from the gore on the trail earlier on his journey back. When the huge reptile flew off leaving them with the scattered pieces of flesh, he didn't have the heart to continue on his way without burying the remnants of what seemed to be the unconscious lady's family or companions. He was lucky to have dabbled in local medicine when he was still under his master in the empire. With his little knowledge of how to treat minor injuries and illnesses, he was able to save his carriageman from bleeding to death. By the time he had stopped the blood from flowing from his torn limbs with the help of the two soldiers, the man has fallen unconscious from pain and loss of blood. After he laid him along with the lady in the carriage, he had pleaded with his companions to help him gather the mangled bits of flesh for burial. The sight of what was left was so horrible that they had vomited at the gore.
Now here he was with his father and brother, laying the dead to rest in a nearby field owned by his father. They had come by themselves having agreed with his father earlier in his tablinum that it was best not to let any of the slaves in the household help out. It was safer to not involve many eyes that will later come to speak and create problems in the future. There were matters that his father has briefly mentioned whilst they spoke which he promised to reveal the details later when Luciano began to question him for answers. His father insisted that it was safer to resolve urgent matters first then deal with lesser ones later. Urgent matter being burying the mauled bodies he brought along with him. He advised that there was no need waiting for the lady to regain consciousness to hold the burial. Besides, such bodies are not even buried in Lucca. Such bodies are thrown into the swamp near the cave of Haddon. In fact, people of the city of Lucca are not meant to touch the body of those connected to Haddon except for the priestess and the temple maidens. However, Luciano didn't know that. He has defied the law in ignorance. His father was not willing to lose a son whilst he still lives. So they buried the bodies in the secrecy of darkness.
Unfortunately, drawn by the scent of the offered blood and since one still lives, two fiery orbs also watched from the cloak of darkness. But it could not come near due to the strange light that shone from one of them.
Footnotes:
1. Atrium: The main room in the public part of the house (pars urbana) where guests and dependents were greeted
2. Domus: A type of house in the ancient Roman empire meant for the upper class and average wealthy
3. Cubicula: Bed Chambers (Note: Cubiculum – singular)
4. Tablinum: The study or home office of the head of the household
5. Patria potestas: Paternal Power or Father's power/authority