After Julia was captured by Felix, it seemed as if the world was ending. The slave movement had grown immensely and was at the very moment causing chaos and destruction in the streets of Rome. To the best of her knowledge, several magistrates had been slain. She could hear faint screams and shouts from the street outside.

Julia and Cornelia had been tossed onto the floor of the atrium, with many other slaves standing watch, including the cook. Cornelia was dazed and just sat quietly, while Julia looked angrily at the slaves. “What are you doing?! The mistress has been nothing but kind to all of you!” shouted Julia.

“She has been kind to you,” muttered the cook. “The rest of us are tired of being enslaved!”

Felix appeared, holding a sword. He approached Julia, staring down at her. “Have you made your choice Julia?” he asked. “Will you do your duty and join your fellow slaves?”

“I will never harm my mistress,” answered Julia coldly.

“Very well,” answered Felix. “Then you first.” He raised the sword while Julia glared at him with an unflinching gaze.

Suddenly, there were shouts and screams in the hallway. Caesar’s soldiers poured in and before Felix could do anything, Caesar himself had stabbed him through the chest and tossed him to the side.

“Oh gods,” Cornelia whimpered. “Oh gods!”

The soldiers killed all the slaves, the bodies strewn around the floor. Blood ran in between the tiles. Julia had picked up Cornelia, who was shivering. Julia desperately tried to keep calm.

“Cornelia,” spoke Caesar who approached them. “I apologize for not coming sooner, someone had tricked my men to train far from the city this week, but I came as fast as I could. Are you hurt?”

Cornelia shook her head.

“Once again, I apologize for this chaos, especially after your father’s death.” Caesar glanced casually at the bodies. “Do not worry, Rome is safe now. I will have someone take you to my sister’s house and you may stay there for as long as you like.”

Cornelia nodded, unable to do anything else. “Thank you,” said Julia.

Caesar smiled. “Julia, is it? I must leave now, but please take good care of your mistress.”

Julia and Cornelia were left to wait. Julia looked at the bodies, horrified. Rome is safe? She thought. The screams outside grew louder, as Julia wondered if her loyalty had been worth all the blood spilled that night.