My family was what you would consider these days as middle class. My father worked a small farm outside the great city. My mother oversaw our slaves and did most of the business work. The house we lived in was no great affair, but far and away from the tenements I passed upon my way to school.

Father was a tall man who wore his thick black hair long as did most farmers. His skin was always tanned and hands were that of a worker, big and calloused. My father was not what one would call gifted with great intelligence, no fool either. He could not argue in the forum and rarely did he. He was a strict man who often showed his disappointment with his belt. I may even still have the scars.

Mother was a beautiful and sad woman, she was my height perhaps a touch shorter. I remember her voice, and after all these years I can still picture her, busying herself about the house singing softly. She too had long black hair, and her eyes were always sad and gentle. Mother was very intelligent she handled the money, the slaves, the schooling, and the children. My father showed his gratitude for all this work with his insults, his indifference, and his beatings. But never her face, never ever her face.

Rarely did I ever see my parents affectionate, only when father came home intoxicated did he show her any physical attention. I used to lay in bed awake and try to shut my ears to what was occurring in the next room. You would now call it domestic violence, however these times are different.

My brother Gaius was like my father. He was a tall broad youth and like my father of limited intelligence. Of course he was my father's favored son, it was Gaius who received the best of things and was to follow in his footsteps. He was welcomed to it, my mother had altogether different plans for me.

My mother discovered my intelligence early on. I even remember it.

It was market day and my mother decided to bring me with her. The market was a long street down the eastern side of the city. It was filled with the smells of incense and flowers, and strange perfumes from lands I had yet to reach. I was walking next to her watching her smile at the passerby's and talking to this friend or that neighbor when something had caught my eye.

I unhooked my hand and walked over to center square to join the crowd of people who had gathered there. Stepping between the crowd I made my way to the front. Two men, Senators from what I had gathered were playing a game. The word escapes me however you would liken it to chess, only with more pieces. I watched them play for a time and finally got the courage to step up to one of them.

"That's a mistake," I whispered pointing to one of the pieces. The two Senators looked up, seeming to come out of their deep thought. One of the Senators laughed the other, who I suggested the move to scowled.

"What do you know about it, little boy?"

"Well I know that if you move there, he'll take these two pieces right here and without them you'll lose."

The Senator scowled and waved his hand dismissing me. He continued with his move, and the other Senator laughed and did as I thought he would. The losing Senator got up and roughly pushed his way past me. I turned to look at him when I noticed my mother was standing behind me.

"You shouldn't disturb people like that, Claudius," she said bending down and taking my shoulders in her hands.

"Do not worry, he did not disturb us. Darius does not care to lose. What is the boys name?"

"Claudius Markova," I said clasping his arm in greeting. The Senator smiled, clasped my arm and shook it.

"I'm Senator Marcus Corelius," he said as he looked at my mother, "The boy is sharp for his age."

"Yes, thank you," my mother said taking my hand again and beginning to walk away. I turned and watched the Senator smile and wave.

"Claudius, you must be careful with what you say and who you say it to," my mother said once we had walked home.

"I understand, mother."

My mother sighed and motioned for me to sit at the table, sitting next to me she looked at me with that sad and gentle look I had come know.

"Some people resent the intelligence others have been gifted with. You're a very intelligent boy, I just�" she looked out into the field where father and Gaius were working, "I just don't want to see you hurt." I did not understand at the time what she had meant by that, but I would soon enough.

The next day started as always father and Gaius working the fields, mother continuing our home studies when there was a knock upon our door. My mother opened the door, to find Senator Marcus standing outside with the board game. He smiled and walked in.

"I've come to see how good he plays," he said as he set the board down on the table.

My mother opened her mouth to protest, but the Senator just smiled and set up the game.

"It's rare that I find a good opponent, I hope you give me a decent run."

We played for the better part of an hour, neither one of us speaking, my mother busying herself around the house coming in to check up on us. Finally the game finished and I had won. The Senator upon losing sat back a moment, looking from the board to me and back to the board.

"Well�" he said, "Have you ever played this game before?"

"No," I shook my head.

Mother walked in at that moment and saw the both of us looking at each other, the senator with a look of astonishment. Mother, her hands shaking a bit began to pick up the game hurriedly dropping a few pieces to the floor.

"Senator, I'm so sorry, he�he has no tact it was improper.." she said in a strangled voice.

The Senator raised his hand, "No�no�don't trouble yourself. I enjoyed that!"

"It's a rare day indeed when someone beats me, much less a ten year old boy. Incredible. Who is his teacher?"

My mother opened her mouth to speak, when the back door opened and my father walked in. His face a mask of surprise as he saw the Senator sitting at his table.

Father shook his head slightly and looked from me to mother then back to the Senator.

"Senator Corelius, it's an honor to have you at my home! Don't just stand there woman bring some wine!"

The Senator smiled, "That is alright, good man. I was just leaving," he said as he stood.

"Your son here plays an excellent game of Latrunculi, it was a pleasure losing to him."

"Beat you?" My father looked as if he had been slapped. The senator nodded smiling.

"Yes, he did very well, you should be proud to have such a bright young man."

My father looked at me once more, and I became very afraid. My father bid the Senator good day and walked him out, speaking with him for a time. I watched the two of them from my room and I knew the smile on my father's face was false. I knew what was coming.

He returned from their walk and shouted for me, striding through the house past my mother and Gaius, who was smirking at me. I walked out of my room and before I could turn around I felt a stick against the back of my knees. I cried out and fell under my own weight, rough hands grabbed me and my father raised his hand and slapped me across my face. I felt my chin covered with something, my father's eyes grew wide and he let me go with a shove.

"Never again will you do that! You let those above you win! Or you'll amount to nothing, nothing!"

"Leave him alone!" My mother said getting in between us. My father pushed her aside and put his face in mine.

"I hear of you doing this one more time�Now get cleaned up," he stood and stalked off. I put my hand to my chin and saw that it was covered in blood.

One more scar from my father to keep�.

Two years would pass from this incident. Two years that I was forbidden to go to school or the marketplace. Oh there were more beatings and more angry words�more scars but they were the normal beatings I had become used to in my life with my father.

My mother would still home school me during this time, secretly while my father was away in the fields. Still I was out learning what my mother could teach me. I said she was very intelligent, and so it was, but I was far outreaching even her and she knew it.

The days passed easily enough and in hindsight I am glad my mother taught me. The two years we spent together talking, teaching, debating were happy times. And like all good things it came to an end. Forever.

It happened on a day that mother went to the marketplace. Of course I wasn't allowed to go, so I had stayed at home reading one of the scrolls my mother had bought for me. I had heard the door open and before I could get off my bed to help her put away the purchases, she was in my room. She smiled with that sad smile and gentle look I had known so often.

"Claudius, I love you. You know that right?" she said taking a hold of my shoulders.

"Yes, mother I know," I said looking at her face. She held me a moment and then looked into my eyes again.

"I did something today for you�for us. I want you to know. I did it for your future."

"I don't understand, I�"

"I enrolled you at the university, Claudius. You're such a smart boy, I can't teach you anymore. And�and I don't want you to end up like your father or your brother, do you understand?"

I nodded and then I noticed. My eyes widened and my mother looked at me, at the fear in my eyes. I think that perhaps she knew, yes. Now that I can see it in my mind's eye, I know she knew what I was looking at. It seems to happen in slow motion; she looks at me and whispers, "I love you. Run, run very far, don't look back," and then she smiles at me one last time.

She stood up, and turned to face my father at the door. His face red, a mask of anger, veins running up and down his thick neck. His fist struck out faster than I had ever seen him striking my mother; no she was more than my mother this time. No longer the sad and gentle woman. Cyrene had returned. The Cyrene before my father had turned her into that woman. She had returned and Cyrene was more powerful in that moment than I had ever seen her. She took the punch to the face and launched herself at him, clawing his face knocking them both down.

The two of them rolled on the ground, with father on top. I ran at him.

So here is the part where I tell you that I stood between my father and mother and hit him. Hit him so hard he looked stunned that his own son would fight back, and that he left my mother and I alone after that...

That is however not what happened. That scene is for fiction, your movies, and your books that make you feel better that make you cheer. This sadly is not fiction and I still only a twelve-year-old boy, my father flung me from out of his way like a rag doll.

I hit the edge of the door and fell stunned. Father hit her in the face again breaking her nose and she screamed not in pain but anger and hate. They screamed at each other words I don't remember. But I do remember Cyrene screaming; "He's my son, not yours he's never been yours!"

My father hit her again knocking her away and stood up quick and began to kick her in the stomach. I stood on shaky legs and Cyrene reached her hands out for me, "Run! Run!" she screamed and then everything stopped, my father kicked again and I heard a sickening crunch, Cyrene's head lolled and her eyes fixed on me and glazed over as the light ran from them.

And I? Did I do something brave? Did I fight my father? No, I did as she asked as she had sacrificed herself I ran.

I ran I could hear my father nearly knock the door off the hinge as he ran after me. And I kept running, not out of fear, but of anger and hate and sadness. Tears ran down my face like rain and all I could see was Cyrene's face.

My father tried to keep up, but I was too fast and on much younger legs. When I could no longer hear my father I turned and looked back seeing him leaning his hands on his knees. I stopped and balled up my fists and screamed at him.

"I'll be back!! I'll come for you!! And Gaius, and I'll be bigger!! I'll kill you!!!"

And I turned and ran into the city.

I am not sure how long I ran. It seems like I ran for days when I finally reached the city. I stopped running at that point. My body covered in sweat, blood and tears. I wandered about in a daze. I do not remember where I wandered or how I had gotten to the marketplace. I remember sitting in an alleyway and weeping. I do not remember collapsing, or how long I lay in that alleyway. The only thing I remember is a beautiful face looking over me, long blonde hair touching my face as it leaned over me speaking, and strong hands picking me up.

I woke up much later on a couch, strong yet gentle hands touching my forehead. Brushing the hair from my face. I opened my eyes to gaze upon the most beautiful face I had seen at that point in my life. Strong blue eyes and the whitest skin I had ever seen. Her nose was a bit crooked as if it had been broken and her full lips smiled at me.

"I see our visitor is awake. How do you feel?" she asked her voice was smooth and low for a woman. I sat up and nodded.

"My back, it hurts�"

"You have quite a bruise back there. Now lay back, I don't know if you have any internal injuries and we don't want to aggravate them," she said as she gently pushed me back down.

I looked at my surroundings. The room I was in was lit well and I could see was richly decorated and well kept. The floor was polished to a near shine and was of the finest marble.

"How did you end up in that alleyway?" she asked as she put a rag in a bowl of water and rung it out.

"I�I�" I began to weep again and rolled over facing the couch, and she put the rag down and began put her hand on the back of my head. I sobbed myself back into oblivion.

The sun was in my eyes the next time I awoke. Sitting up I noticed my back felt like new. I touched the spot that had been hurting earlier and nothing, no pain. I sat up and looked around. I was in the same room as before. I stood and put on my tunic that was lying on the foot of the couch. I wandered out the door and looked into the gardens.

My mouth hung open as I realized how rich my rescuer was. I had never seen such opulence, the garden was beautiful, and several statues of Bacchus, Dionysus, and others were all about.

"Good morning," I heard a voice say behind me. I turned to see a boy my age. He was dressed in a rich blue tunic and sandals. His sky blue eyes looked at me with curiosity, and his face was framed with curly blonde locks.

"I'm Cassius, who are you?" he said holding out his arm.

"Claudius," I said gripping his arm. "Where am I?"

"You are here in my home. My father says we are to adopt you."

I looked at him with shock, "What? What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're going to be my brother." He said with a shrug.

"Where's your father?" I asked my anger getting ahead of me. Cassius motioned for me to follow as he walked off the balcony and down to the gardens. I followed him watching every corner and ready for anything. He brought me past the gardens into a huge living area.

"Father, our guest is awake." He said as he opened the door. The man by the hearth stood up and turned towards me and all my fear drained from me as I ran to him wrapping my arms around him.

"There, there, Claudius. Everything will be ok," Senator Marcus Corelius said.

We sat down and I told him everything. About my father, about Cyrene, everything. He sat and listened and finally put his hand on my shoulder.

"You're safe now, Claudius. Your father cannot touch you now," he said.

"But what will I do?"

"You'll go to University, you'll get your education and then it is up to you. You're the son of a Senator now; the world is at your fingertips. If you're as intelligent as I think you are, there will be even more to learn," he said with a wink.

Over the next week, Marcus taught me how to act like a rich son. How to fool others into thinking I was the son of his brother that had died. Once I had this down, he allowed me out to wander through the richer section of the city. Cassius and I would stroll up and down the streets, making idle chatter and playing with the others.

We always avoided the marketplace, to keep from being spotted by my father who I had heard from Marcus was still looking for me.

The next two years that I attended University were relatively uneventful. I was one of the top students of my class. My days were filled with dusty scrolls and essays, my nights with Marcus debating over what I had learned. Cassius and I became fast friends during those two years and we were nearly inseparable. Karine I learned was Marcus' slave and kept the house much like my mother had. Marcus however treated her very well and at times I was unsure if she truly was a slave or a partner as I heard her scold him every once in awhile, and Marcus took it with a smile and a; "Yes, Karine, you're right."

I also began to grow up as well. I grew taller and stronger, I thank the gods all I received from my father was his muscular frame. I still was not as thick as he as my body was far more toned as I ate far better than he had.

Upon my sixteenth birthday, I awoke to find a present sitting at the edge of my bed. It was the finest gladius I had every seen. It's blade seemed nearly blue and looked beautiful next to it's brassy gold pommel. I picked it up and it felt very natural to my hand. It was light, unnaturally light. I took a couple of careful swings, fearing to knock over something in my eagerness.

"Claudius! Come out to the courtyard." I heard Karine's voice shout out. I smiled and ran out of my room and down the steps to the courtyard.

Karine was waiting for me, she was wearing padded clothing and holding some for me. She threw it at my feet.

"Put these one and grab a wooden sword from over there." She said motioning towards the weapons rack. I quickly put on the clothing and grabbed a sword. She held hers up and smiled.

"Marcus wants me to teach you how to defend yourself."

"Won't I learn that in the legions?"

"Yes, but I want to make sure you return from your duty."

I nodded. Taking the sword in hand I waited until I thought she was ready and rushed her. I was clumsy and she grabbed the sword away from me and threw me to the ground. I got back up and scowled. Karine and I had had talks before however they were just idle chatter. I had never asked her what she did for Marcus and certain other questions. Perhaps now was the time, I had thought.

"You're a gladiator, aren't you?" I asked. Karine looked at me in surprise and then she chuckled. "I was, I thought you knew that."

"I thought so but, I never got to ask," I said as I rushed her again. This time we sparred for a bit and she began to show me certain moves and feints. I was quick learner it seemed and took to fighting well.

"I quit after we found you, Marcus demanded it," she said after a time.

"Why did he do that?"

"He said he wanted me to be around to teach you. As if I would have lost�" she said with a scowl. I stopped for a moment, and sat down on the nearby bench.

"Why does he think I am so special?"

She stopped and walked over to the bench, stopping to pick up a cloth and wipe the sweat from her.

"Because, Claudius you are," she said hand on my shoulder. I looked at her and then back to the sky.

"Can I ask you a question? Is, well are you and Marcus�"

"Lovers?" she said with a smile.

"Yes," I said feeling my face get red.

"We are, I'm not exactly a slave. He's my teacher, my friend and sometimes my lover," she said leaning back on the bench. I nodded and stood back up. I walked to the middle of the courtyard again and smiled waiting for her. She laughed and joined me.

We sparred the rest of the day. This continued for the next four months. She taught me how to fight using many different weapons, even my fists. Every night my body was covered in bruises, and on some lucky times she would have a bruise or two.

One night after another sparring session, I returned to my room bruised and battered but smiling. I had almost beat Karine this time and she had said she was impressed with me. As I began to unstrap the hooks in my padded clothing there was a knock upon my door. Marcus opened the door smiling, "I heard you just about beat Karine tonight, well done."

"Thank you, Marcus. She's tough, real tough. I'll get her one day." I said throwing my chest piece upon my bed.

"I think that day will be soon enough. Claudius we need to talk, please sit down." He said as he sat in a chair across from the bed. I sat down looking at him.

"Claudius you're a bright boy, but something is holding you back from where you need to be. Karine sees it, and I see it."

"I don't understand. My studies are coming along well and even our debates are beginning to go in my favor. I thought I was doing well?" I said as I began to fear he was going to ask me to leave. He smiled and nodded.

"No, no. Your studies are excellent, and you've become a very good at our little debates. Remember them well. I believe you'll need them later on in your life. It's your past. Your anger is holding you back. It needs to be resolved, and soon or you'll be lost."

"I don't understand, lost?" I said, my mind spinning.

"There's a world you have yet to even see, Claudius. Soon your eyes must open or they'll be shut forever," he said as he stood. He patted my shoulder and looked at me gravely. "You have been like a son to me, and I'm damned proud of you." He closed my door and left me with my thoughts.

I finished undressing and slipped into bed. My dreams that night were like most of my dreams lately. My father's face as he kicked my mother. The blood on his hands. I awoke sometime in the night screaming my mother's name. I tried to weep but I had no more tears left, just anger, just hate. I knew then what I had to do in the morning.

I awoke that morning before anyone else. I put some light clothes on and strapped my gladius to my belt. The sword felt right at home on my belt and I checked the mirror.

"What are you doing?" I heard Cassius say from behind me. I turned at him.

"Taking care of something," I said as I tried to walk past him. He put his arm on the door barring me. "With a sword on your belt?"

"Not now Cassius, I have to do this."

"I'll come with you," he said.

"No, I've got to do this alone." I said pushing my way past him. He put his hand on my shoulder but I continued walking out the door and down to the front. I took one last look behind me, and opened the door and walked out onto the street.

I arrived at my father's house a little past the hour. I opened the door quietly and crept in. The house was silent as a grave and I could sense�something watching or at least if felt that way. I checked the entire house, and seeing that I was alone I looked out the window and saw my father in the field. Nodding to myself I returned to my old room. I opened the door to find it was a complete shambles. Everything was smashed to pieces as if my father was looking for something, some clue as to where I went. Dust on the floor made me believe no one had been in here since the day I left.

The front door opened and I quickly closed my door. I heard footsteps in the kitchen, then down the hall then my brother's room. Gaius is home I thought.

I opened my door slowly and quietly walked out. I leaned on my brother's door and opened it a bit. He was on his bed taking a nap. I slipped through the door and walked over slowly, my hand on my gladius. He turned on his side and saw me; his eyes wide open with fear.

"Hello brother, I didn't miss you," I said as I launched my foot square into his chin. Gaius grabbed his throat and rolled off the bed.

"You never stopped him, never stood up to him." I continued to kick him. He made a gurgling noise as he tried to speak. I pulled my fist back and struck him in the back.

"Father's going to kill you!" he said. I grabbed his hair and brought his face to mine.

"He can try, Gaius. I'm no defenseless woman." Gaius put his back to the bed and picked himself up. I took a step back as he launched his fist at me. Completely missing me, I stepped forward and pulled my gladius out and brought it to his throat as I grabbed him in my arms pinning them.

"Feel that, Gaius? That's fear, that's knowing someone stronger has you pinned and defenseless. That's how mom felt everyday." With that I brought the blade across his throat gashing it wide open. I felt his blood run down his chest onto my arm and my sword wrist. I let him go and he staggered a bit turning to me, a look of shock on his face.

I turned on my heel, and walked out of the room closing the door, refusing to watch what was once my brother die. I walked down the hall to my father's room. Opening the door, I watched as memories flooded by. I shook my head of them and took out his finest tunic and wiped Gaius' blood on it. I took the tunic with me and walked out the front door. I walked towards the field where my father had his back to me. As I got closer something began stirring in me, and odd feeling within the pit of my stomach. It felt like a fire had started within me. A white-hot flame that didn't burn, but fuel me.

Something in my father made him turn to see me still wiping blood upon his good tunic. I tossed it to his feet. He looked at me not quite recognizing me and bent and picked up his tunic staring at the blood.

"That's your son's blood," I said sheathing my sword. And that is when he really looked into my eyes. The years had not been kind he was now an old man. His black hair had gone gray, his face a bit more wrinkled. I smiled and he knew. I have my mother's smile.

"Claudius??" he asked in a voice that was more a whisper.

"I see the years have made you pay for your crimes against mother�you're a weak old man."

"By the gods, Claudius, what have you done, what�"

"Be silent," I said waving my hand at him. His mouth closed tight and I could see him struggling to move his mouth. The white flame felt bigger now�stronger and in my fingertips. He looked down at his mouth then back to me and he started to run. I turned and watched this feeble man run for his life. I raised my hand and the white flame exploded.

"Stop!!" And suddenly the world seemed to stop. He was still running but not moving a single inch his feet were off the ground. I walked calmly over to him and put my face into his.

I tried to say something, anything to make him hurt like I did. Nothing would come. I turned tears in my eyes. All I could see was her face it was everywhere I looked. Except when I looked at him. My anger boiled within me, hate beat at my heart and I balled my fists and let it go. I turned and struck him as hard as I ever have in the face. The world began to move again. He fell to the ground, his nose broken. Blood was all over his face and on my hand. I kicked him as he crawled away. He began to whimper begging me to stop. To spare him.

I grabbed him by the collar of his tunic and began to drag him towards an old tree in the field. He tried to grab my wrist to make me let go, but I was far stronger.

"I remember when mother begged you, when I begged you. I remember your words; 'It's time for your lesson, boy' Well father this is my lesson to you," I said as we neared the tree. I let him go and he tried to get up. I kicked him in the stomach and he crumpled.

"Oh no, father. You can't go yet. The lesson is just starting." I walked around to his legs and brought my heel down upon his ankle. The bone crunched beneath my feet and he screamed. I smiled and began to unhook his belt. I unwrapped it and turned it in my hand.

"I used to be afraid of this. I use to hide under my bed when you came looking for me�if I was lucky. Of course your son would always tell you where I was. This thing," I said looking at the belt, "This thing of hate�and anger." I swung hard bringing the belt down upon his ankle and he screamed again.

I looked up at the tree branch, and began to tear the tunic into strips.

"I don't have a rope father, so these will have to do," I began to tie them together and when it was long enough I put the belt around his neck and tied that to the strips.

I flung the strips over the branch and pulled. My father struggled but he had withered so much he was easy to pull up to his feet. I stopped when he was face to face with me.

He struggled with the belt at his neck, and tried to speak. I put my hand to my ear.

"What's that father? Are you beginning to understand what she felt? You strangled the life out of her long before you killed her," I said as I took his chin in my hand.

"Don't do this!" he said in a spray blood and spittle that hit my face, "I made you the man you are!"

"And I hope you burn for that. I hope Pluto takes one look at you and knows the kind of scum you are. You're no man. You're nothing to me, you're not my father and you're not who I am. I will never be what you are. Do you understand me?! I want you to burn for this!"

The white flame exploded again this time it seemed to drain out of me and I staggered back. The tunic strips fell out of my grasp and my father landed on his knees. I put a hand to my head and looked at him. He was holding his sides, wrapping arms around him. He coughed and I was sure I saw a bit of smoke come out. He began to scream and this time smoke began to pour from his mouth, his ears and eyes. His skin began to turn red then purple then black. He looked at me one last time and exploded into blue flame. He fell to his back on the ground and soon he was nothing more than ash.

I staggered again and fell to my knees, and as I turned to the house, it too was in flames. Blackness filled my vision and I fell to my face.

I woke to find Karine sitting by me. I was home in my own bed again. She smiled at me and touched my face. I blinked and looked around my darkened room.

"Relax, you've had a rough time of it today. Do you want to talk about it?" she asked looking into my eyes. I blinked again. Something was very different about her. Things had changed and my vision was suddenly perfectly clear. The sound of her voice was like tinkling bells. The skin on her fingertips, when she touched my cheek, was cool and smooth. The bed sheets felt warm and rough at the same time. It was as if every nerve within me suddenly woke up.

"What's happened to me," I croaked, my throat felt like sandpaper. She leaned over and took a glass of wine of the table and handed it to me. I drank and it was the best thing I had ever tasted. I emptied the cup and handed it back. She returned the cup and smiled again.

"Welcome to the real world, Claudius. You're still just seeing a tiny fraction of it. Your senses are waking back up they have been asleep too long. How does it feel?"

"Like everything is�new."

"Everything is new, will be new. You have Awakened," she said touching my forehead again with her fingertips. I sat up and it felt ecstatic. I realized now that I had been totally stripped of clothing and I was lying naked. I covered myself.

"Where's Marcus? I�" She put her finger to my lips.

"Marcus can't help you with this. You aren't fully awake yet."

"I don't understand," I said feeling a bit of fear in my voice.

"Don't be afraid, Claudius. This is what you've been preparing yourself for your whole life. It's all been leading to this. Marcus is here and he wanted me to come and speak to you first. To answer your questions, and help you take that one last step," she said as she cupped my chin. She leaned over and kissed my forehead. She stood and looked down at me as she put her hands behind her back.

"Have you ever been with a woman before?" she asked as her hands worked something behind her.

"No.no, I haven't," I said a lump in my throat. I looked her in the eye and it became apparent what she was about to do. I looked the other way, but feeling myself react in spite of myself.

"What about Marcus? You and he are�he'll be furious," I stammered. I heard her chuckle and felt her hand take my chin and turn my face to her.

"Why do you think he sent me? He's fine with anything I do. He has other lovers. I don't mind, you'll understand." She straightened out and let her clothes fall to the floor. I tried to turn my head, but with my new eyes I could do nothing but look at her. No that's wrong, I didn't look at her I drank her in. Every nuance of her body stood before me. The smooth skin, the scars, everything. I finally brought my eyes to hers.

"You're doing this because Marcus told you to?" She smiled and shook her head.

"No I'm doing this because if you are who I think you are, this will be wonderful," she said as she lifted the sheet and slipped in the bed. She sat up and brought her legs around my thighs. She put her hands behind her head and undid her hair. I could hear her hair fall in cascading waves of blonde fall to her shoulders and back.

She took me in her hand and moved me underneath her, and put her hand on my chest. She motioned with her head to the window.

"Take a good look, Claudius. Take a long last look at the old world, tonight you'll see everything," I did look out the window and she began to put me inside of her.

Everything slowed to a crawl, nearly a standstill as she brought me further into her. I could hear and feel and see everything. I heard the bed creak, the rustle of the sheets, the sound of me entering, and her sigh. I turned my head back to her. Her eyes were the brightest blue her lips were flushed red. She slowly brought her head back her eyes closed and moaned as she brought me fully into her. My back arched, as it seemed every nerve ending started and ended in my loins. She put her hands upon my chest and leaned forward, her hair enveloped my face, and kissed me deeply.

Leaning back she began to move ever so gently and slowly and I began to move with her. We moved together in total unison. She leaned back down and kissed me, I brought my arms about her back and rolled us over.

Nothing existed, nothing outside the bed. No longer did I care about the world outside, just this sensation, just this moment. It was all the same the past the present the future is was all here and now.

We continued our slow almost torturous pace for a time. Soon that no longer was enough for either of us. We seemed to become frantic, urgent and when finally we joined our cries together, my world exploded and we collapsed together.

I awoke still within in her, my head upon her chest, her fingers stoking my hair. I raised my head and my eyes grew wide. Karine was gone; in her place was another woman. She smiled down at me; her red hair lay upon the pillow like flames licking the cloth. I blinked my eyes and Karine had returned. "Welcome to the new world, Claudius," she said her voice a bit hoarse. I smiled and rested my head upon her breast. I closed my eyes.

"What happens now?"

"Your real education begins�" she said and kissed my head.

Markova's history continued...