Warning: This chapter is short and contains a great deal of gruesome detail. The horror part of erotic horror. If you don't like blood and gore you may not want to read this one.
*
Nightfall brought a soft knock on Rillan's door. When he opened it Arial was standing there with a middle-aged, nervous man in a toga. Stepping back, Rillan opened the door as wide as he could in the confined space and allowed them both in.
Arial smiled winningly at Rillan. "This is Darius. He waits on Tiberius and his wife works in the kitchens."
With the mention of his wife, Darius looked a bit smaller. "Well, she used to," he said to the air.
Arial shot Rillan an apologetic gaze. "She's fallen sick. Darius needs money for the apothecary."
"I'm sorry for your troubles." Rillan felt little sympathy overall.
At least the man has a wife to be sick.
"I pay well, if that's any aid to your cooperation."
"I'll cooperate," Darius said in a muted voice. "Arial said that all you want to know is what Tiberius does all the time."
Rillan nodded. "That's all." He produced several golden denarii. "As much detail as you can."
Rillan listened carefully as Darius related the intricacies of a day in the life of Tiberius Caelius Novanus. He looked a bit uncomfortable when Rillan started asking questions about the number of guards in the house and where they were at night.
Neither Arial nor Darius was fool enough to not draw some conclusions about why Rillan wanted a daily itinerary, especially after Rillan's questions. Even so, the money was enough to support Darius' family for the entire year.
"There is one thing that I would add," Darius said. "Tiberius was a general before he took control in the senate. You ask a great deal about guards. He doesn't have many because he doesn't need them."
"Thank you for that," Rillan replied and added another coin to the pile. "Is there anything else you would add?"
Darius thought hard to come up with something else that might add another denarius to his payment. Finally he shook his head.
Rillan pressed the coins into Darius' hands. "I don't think I have to tell you to forget that you were here."
"No. That goes without saying." Darius took the coins, excused himself, and skulked off into the night, grateful that the ordeal was over.
Arial stayed behind for a short time, but once she established that she wasn't going to be able to bed Rillan, she excused herself.
Rillan was just beginning to feel the wearying effects of all the travel, day and night. Not to mention the constant nagging longing he had for Mira. The woman never left his thoughts. Even now, standing in the shadows of the stone wall surrounding Tiberius' home all he could think was,
Finish this and then you can return to her.
Intently, he watched the windows of Tiberius' villa. The candlelight long since extinguished, Rillan was only waiting now in the hopes that Tiberius would be asleep for the attack. He had dealt with warriors before, but it was always more difficult than the standard overfed politician helplessly cowering in a corner.
Impatient for an end to this assignment, Rillan took a deep breath and summoned up his demon. Blood lust ran rampant through his senses. This half reveled in the task at hand.
No remorse,
he told himself.