Destined for a Deity (Mark of Mars)

by Juliet Anderson

  Jenna slipped it around her wrist. “How is that?”

  “Lovely,” her eyes sparkled. “Can I have it?”

  “Of course.” Jenna paid the vendor.

  Several stalls later, Jenna had her fill of ribbons and hair accessories.

  “I didn’t think pink was your colour,” Florentina materialised behind them.

  “Ha, ha,” Jenna poked out her tongue. “If you’re not careful, young Portia here will have your hair braided with pink feathers.”

  Florentina laughed. “I heard you did a brilliant job with Marshall Vilnus’ hair,” she spoke to Portia.

  “He looked very nice with feathers,” Portia sighed, bemoaning the fact Marcus had not let her near his hair again.

  “It looks like you have bought half the market,” Florentina eyed up the purchases in Jenna’s hand.

  “Papa only lets me out with Jenna.”

  “Really? Who could think she makes a safe escort?”

  “How would your mother like to find out you’ve been carrying on with a lowly temple priest?,” Jenna fixed her with a look.

  “About as much as you would like me to tell Marshall Vilnus you’re out without an escort.”

  “Jenna has special soldiers,” Portia added her piece.

  Jenna gave Florentina a victorious smile. “Talking of priests, have you been to see Luke?”

  “Yes, I was hoping he was free to take me to the Via Lata, but he is alone in the temple.” Florentina tried not to sound too disappointed.

  “Alone?” Jenna queried. “And you were in a rush to leave?”

  “It’s a temple. We couldn’t possibly desecrate it.”

  “I’m sure Mars wouldn’t have objected,” Jenna grinned. “But now you’re here, you can help us out.”

  “Oh very well,” Florentina sighed. “It’s been a while since I emptied a market.”

  Portia was thrilled to have another woman to pander to her, it was such a rare treat to be noticed.

  “Should we not get going?” Jenna asked after a while.

  “Not yet. Papa is busy so needs the quiet.” Portia was learning far too quickly.

  “With Julius and Dextus wrecking the villa?” Jenna snorted. Fat chance of that.

  After visiting three more stalls, Jenna put her foot time. “Time is definitely up, young one. I need to get back to the temple as I’m meeting Marcus later.”

  “Cheer up,” Florentina touched her shoulder. “The sooner you get home, the quicker you can try out your new purchases.”

  Portia seemed appeased with that thought.

  “So how do you know Jenna?” Florentina asked Portia.

  “She’s my sister.”

  “Sister?” Florentina was bemused.

  “An honorary title,” Jenna added.

  In front of them, two Praetorian guards appeared. “Miss Duvall, the Emperor has asked if you can indulge him with a moment of your time.”

  “I cannot right now, I have my young charge to escort home. I will stop by the Palace afterwards.”

  “He is not at the Palace, he is visiting a residence just a few paces from here. He saw you walk by and asked if you could stop in.”

  “As long as he doesn’t mine my friends, then I’m sure we can manage a short diversion.” She looked down at Portia. “Do you remember meeting Emperor Trajan at the Circus Maximus?

  She nodded in response, holding Jenna’s hand just a fraction tighter.

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing the Emperor again,” Florentina added. “I’ve a few questions on his new initiatives.”

  They followed the Praetorian down a side street and into a rather stark residence. Trajan was seated in a very large living room with another man Jenna did not recognise.

  “My dear, thank you for stopping in.” He rose and came towards her.

  “My pleasure,” she responded formally.

  “And you have guests,” he acknowledged Florentina and Portia rather formally. “The more the merrier.”

  “The guard said you needed to see me?” Something was off, but Jenna could not quite put her finger on it.

  “Yes. I need your opinion on something. Please, follow me.”

  They stepped in line behind the Emperor and his companion as they went further inside the villa. “What I need to show you is underground.” He opened a door and headed down a long set of stairs. Another series of passageways followed.

  “What exactly is it we’re going to see?” Jenna’s skin was starting to chill.

  “You’ll see very shortly, my dear.”

  They stopped in a large vaulted room which had the most amazing frescos high up on the ceilings. Trajan opened another door and ushered them into the vault inside. Too late, Jenna realised his intentions, the door was firmly shut and locked with the three of them inside.

  “What are you up to?” Jenna glowered at Trajan through the grill in the door.

  “Relax, you will come no harm,” a familiar voice said as Trajan transformed into Apollo.

  “You,” Jenna hissed. “Let us out right now or your brother will spill your blood.”

  “My brother has no idea where we are, nor does the Olympus Guard. We left the residence you entered a long time ago via this underground passageway.”

  “What are you planning, Apollo?”

  “We will talk later.”

  “Let my friends go. They can have no use to you.”

  “Sadly they know where you are, so they stay for now.”

  Apollo vanished, leaving the three of them alone in that dark room.

  “What’s happening, Jenna?” Portia clamped her arms around her.

  “I do believe I’ve been abducted again,” Jenna sighed heavily. “At least this time I have some friends to share my adventure with.” She tried to make light of the situation.

  Florentina looked at Jenna in amazement. “Again?”

  “Yes. Bizarrely enough last time it was a Praetorian Captain who abducted me. You‘d think I’d have learnt by now not to trust them. Excluding Captain Augustus of course.”

  “How did you escape?”

  “Julius and Mars.”

  “Mars?” Florentina thought she’d misheard.

  “Julius?” Portia queried.

  “Yes to both. Julius followed me when he saw me being taken from the Colosseum and advised the Marshall where I was being held. Mars was rather upset that someone who bore his mark had been taken, so saw fit to rescue me.”

  “Sadly this time I don’t think anyone was following us,” Florentina grunted.

  “Jenna’s special guard must have been,” Portia announced brightly.

  “As Apollo said, they would think we were in the residence we first entered.”

  “Apollo mentioned the Olympus Guard,” Florentina missed nothing.

  “Bearing Mars’ mark affords me some perks,” Jenna gave half a smile.

  “What do we do?”

  “We wait. I’d like to know what Apollo is up to. He is either very brave or very foolish to go up against his brother.”

  “Mars?”

  “Yes.” And the rest of his family, Jenna thought. Minerva would castrate Apollo herself if she knew what he had done. She was a little angry at herself for not realising it wasn’t Trajan they met; if it had been, he would have recognised Florentina and Portia. Hindsight was a wonderful thing. The only faint ray of hope they had was her bracelet; she was still in Rome and not too far underground, the tracker in it should still work.

  Jenna sat down on the bench and put Portia on her lap. “Perhaps we might be lucky and Julius rides to our rescue again.”

  “I like Julius,” Portia twirled her hair. “He’s much nicer than Dextus.”

  “And I think Florentina will be hoping a servant of Mars comings riding in to rescue her,” Jenna teased.

  “Luke told me he was rubbish in a sword fight,” Florentina sighed.

  “He lied. He’s pretty skilled with a sword, but lacks my aggression.”

  “That is so l
ike him,” Florentina mused. “But he is the first person my father will head to when my absence is noticed at home.”

  “It will not be long before our absence is reported. Ajax will get suspicious we have not exited the residence and will report back to Marshall Vilnus, who will search the place, which I guess is actually unoccupied and realise it has happened again. From then on, you will feel Rome shake.”

  “You sound so calm.”

  “What is the point in worrying as we do not yet know Apollo’s aim?” Jenna responded flatly. Inside, she was panicking, not for herself but for Portia and Florentina. She would try and reason with him later to let them go.

  “Say that again?” Mars growled at Ajax.

  “Jenna has disappeared. She went into a residence close to the Trajan Forum with two Praetorian and has not been out since. In fact I cannot pick up her life force at all.”

  “She was alone?”

  “No. Florentina and Portia were with her.”

  “And you can pick up not trace of any of them?”

  “No.”

  “Take me to this residence immediately,” he barked. They transported right to the atrium and Mars took a good look around. The villa was seemingly unoccupied. What he did find was a small pink ribbon on the ground, it was so out of place. Portia, he thought, examining it. He knew instantly he was dealing with another abduction.

  Whoever was responsible for this would pay with their life. After this he would have an even harder time persuading Jenna Rome was the place she belonged.

  “Notify the entire Olympus guard. I want the city searched.”

  Ajax transported back to Olympus whilst Mars headed straight for his parents’ residence. He needed all the help he could get in trying to track down Jenna.

  Minerva was outraged. “Who would dare touch Jenna knowing she was protected by the God of War?”

  “Someone who wants to enrage me, no doubt.”

  “But why take Florentina and Portia?” Juno sounded hurt.

  “I imagine her abductee thought she would be alone.”

  “I will notify General Tiberius and obviously Trajan,” Jupiter was not looking forward to the task. “Mars, you should speak to Laurentius right away.”

  “I will, then I need to speak to Gaius. They might be able to trace Jenna if she was wearing her wrist band.” Mars hoped she was.

  “Call for me when you’re ready to tear the city apart,” Minerva rested her hand on his shoulder. “I will help you.”

  “Help me keep my temper in check?”

  “On the contrary, I want you to make Rome shudder. Jenna is protected by a God. The citizens need to know the penalty for such blasphemy.”

  Marcus headed over to see Laurentius, he was not altogether looking forward to breaking the news to his friend.

  “Marcus, come on in,” Laurentius was a welcoming as ever.

  “I need to speak to both you and Octavia,” he said solemnly. “This is not altogether a personal call.”

  “Whatever has happened?” Octavia could hear the gravity in his voice.

  “I have had a report that Jenna was abducted on her way back from the Forum.”

  Octavia’s hand flew to her mouth. “Not again. And Portia?”

  “Portia and Florentina were both taken with Jenna.”

  “I thought Jenna had a special guard assigned to her,” Laurentius looked darkly at his friend.

  “She does. But it seems the culprits were masquerading as Praetorian.”

  “And she would have thought they were acting on her father’s instructions,” Laurentius sighed.

  “Jenna is in trouble again?” Julius appeared next to Octavia.

  “Yes,” Marcus looked at him fondly.

  “What is Mars doing about it?” the boy glowered.

  “About to raze the city to the ground looking for her, Portia and Florentina.” Marcus bent down and whispered in Julius’ ear. “Mars could benefit from your special knowledge of the city.”

  “How can I help?” he asked eagerly.

  “We know where she was taken, but she has been moved since. I imagine some of your former street friends might have seen some odd activity. Any information you can find will go well rewarded to all of you.”

  Julius nodded. “I’ll let you know what I can find.”

  Marcus stood back up. “Rest assured, we will find them all.”

  He left his friends and rode straight over to his temple. Gaius backed up slightly as he strode in. He was no longer just the Marshall but the God he served.

  “Jenna is in trouble again,” Marcus announced. “Are you able to arrange for that device to trace her to be brought here?”

  “Yes. But where did this happen.”

  “Not far from here. She was with two others.”

  Luke overheard their conversation, normally he would not butt in but Marcus had mentioned a name that had more than grabbed his attention.

  “Florentina is with her?”

  “Yes.”

  “What is being done to find them?” Luke asked flatly.

  Gaius looked at him in surprise, he was never this vocal around the Marshall.

  “We have every soldier in the city looking for her.”

  “I will get the equipment,” Gaius headed towards the gateway. “I will meet you in the Trajan Forum later once we have it working correctly.”

  Mars headed outside, completely lost as to what to do. He had nearly lost Jenna last time she had been abducted. She carried much more of his life force now, but he still worried for her safety.

  Jenna was pleased to finally hear the key turn in the lock, it meant she might get some answers.

  “Apollo wants to talk to you,” the guard grunted.

  “And I to him,” Jenna snapped.

  Portia re-attached herself to Jenna. “Don’t leave me, I’m scared,” she whined.

  Jenna knelt down. “I’m just going to talk to someone about getting us out of here. Florentina will protect you whilst I am gone.” She kissed Portia’s head before standing back up. “Well lead on, I haven’t got all day.”

  The guard muttered something rude and locked the door behind them. Jenna followed him along a maze of corridors before ushering her into a large room.

  “Jenna,” Apollo’s smile was irritatingly smug. “I do hope you can forgive me for providing such rustic accommodation.”

  “Release us all now, and I might just,” she retorted.

  “That is not possible.”

  “What is all this about? You know your brother could well kill you for this.”

  “My dear brother will not know it is me. I do not mean you any harm, I rather like you.” He ran his hand down her arm, making her skin crawl. “I want to inflict some pain on him. He has had everything go his way recently and it has gone to his head. My parents are doting on him as they have never done before and I find it quite tiresome. I have been usurped as the favourite son by that dullard.”

  “So this is all about getting your parents’ attention?”

  “It is about tormenting my dull brother. He is not right for you, Jenna. You need someone who can add fun and excitement to your life.”

  “I do believe Mars already gives me that.”

  “Nonsense, you are only settling for him because you have known no other.”

  “Let me guess, you can show me how great we could be together, give me pleasure I have never dreamt of?” she responded scathingly.

  “Are you insulting a God?” Apollo growled, annoyed the meeting was not going the way he wanted it to.

  “Yes. Your brother gets an earful so why should I treat a lesser God any different.”

  “Lesser God,” Apollo thundered, dealing her a backhand so hard she flew across the room.

  “Only a weak man hits a woman,” she spat out a mouthful of blood.

  Apollo pulled her to her feet. “You will pay for that outrage, woman.”

  “Whatever,” she snapped angrily. “I’m not going to fall into your a
rms and plead for mercy. The only way you’ll get me is by force and even then the outcome is not guaranteed. I suggest you give up on this madness and let us go.”