Livia crept silently down the hall of the family villa, her bare feet silent on the cool stone tile floor. Lanterns flickered with her passage, her ears straining for any sound of the sentry on their evening patrols with his sandals clipping on the floor. Despite the late hour, she could hear her parents entertaining friends in the atrium across the house, knowing from the music and laughter that the gathering would go on for some time yet.
The history of the family villa was a constant source of mystery for Livia, growing up listening intently to the stories overheard from her parents, guests and the household servants. The household maintained the usual spirits with their role of guiding and protecting the lands, waters and inhabitants within their realm of influence, a source of pride and security for those that lived within their bounds.
But there were other stories that held Livia's attention. The servants and locals often whispered of special Lares that would find women or men alone at times, hinting at pleasures shared but never openly discussed. It was as if the residents of the Lares realm were afraid if their secret were revealed the Lares would flee and take their secrets with them.
In her twentieth year Livia decided she could not wait any longer, learning the secret of these special Lares becoming a driving passion. She had prepared carefully for this evening luxuriating in a long rose scented bath with careful attention to her long dark red hair framing her thin face and dark olive complexion, remembering the tales of others efforts to attract the Lares. Finally ready she slipped down the dimly lit stairs through the house to quietly pass through a small side door, her thin almost gauze like white short dress brushing her bare legs mid thigh, her breasts swaying in the loose top.
Outside the Villa the bright moonlight cast the grounds in a dim black and white, shadows stretching from the shrubs lining the property walls. Studying the grounds intently she feels she is alone, the dim footsteps of the household guards a distant echo. An athletic young woman she moves quickly to a fountain near the edge of the property, the grass to the side of the walkways helping maintain her stealth.
Stepping past the archway her feet felt cool on the stone surrounding the fountain. The pool surrounding the statues with their high arches of water splashing in the shallow water making a pleasant sound in the otherwise still night. The warm night air was comfortable after the heat of the day and she stretched her arms above her head as she spun in place, excited in being free in the night.
Sitting on the edge of the pool she dabbed her fingers in the cool water, flicking droplets back toward the statues. Excitement warring with patience as she hoped the Lares would find her.
Across the pool small eyes peered between the leaves of the thick shrubs. The gentle sound of a bird trilled in the night air making her look about excitedly, peering into the dim light. More eyes joined the first, the Lares sensing the presence of the woman and her uncertain desire. The tiny beings, ethereal in appearance circling the fountain, begin to circle closer to drift past making her head turn as she feels a gentle caress to her hair.
Livia turns her head excitedly as she feels the first caress as if a small breeze pushed her hair back from her face. Looking intently she can barely see small distortions in the air from the corner of her eyes, gone as soon as she focuses. Barely heard whispers surround her, all but drowned by the excited beating of her heart.
