The sun was high when they went to bed. The secret was more dangerous than they thought. Belena didn’t have to tell them what she learned in the the temple. It was all written in those roles of papyrus. All of that and more. Gruesome tales fo sacrifices and bloody orgies, names of the members of the cult that spread as far as the empire did, plans, and schemes... Aurelianus was not surprised to see the name of his uncle there.



But that was not all. The golden tessera had inscribed the purpose of the the cult: they meant to revive the emperors of old through a special sacrifice. A sacrifice that would allow the roman empire to expand the limits of it’s domains further even than Alexander.

They called the sacrificius aurorum.



- They are insane...- said Belena, as she went through the papyrus leafs.



- Not all of them I fear...- said Hadrianus, genuinely worried – I know a lot of the persons in this cult, whether from Alexandria, whether from my stay at Rome. Some of them believe in this madness ad much as we do. For instance, this man here: Lucius Domitus Sura. He was a part of the conjurers that killed Elagabalus...



- Hadrianus, I think I found something. I can’t read greek all that well... They explain here what a sacrificius aurorum is. Its a person of high rank, close to the gods, touched by...You translate it!



He gave the paper to Hadrianus, who lost all blood in his face.



- Touched by the imperial purple. They mean to sacrifice the emperor...



- Alexander Severus?



- Yes... Belena, give me the name list again please. -Hadrianus’s eyes darted quickly from one name to another. – Here! The name of Claudius Maximus Aelius, head of the praetorian guard... Here, the name of Patrocles of Athens, tutor of Alexander...

They are going for the emperor. We have to act soon...



- Why?... I’m sorry Aurelianus I understand you want revenge, and I support you. But we will be dooming ourselves if we uncover this plot! Not to mention our families. Just to save Julia Mammea, and her child?... They are as corrupt as any other will be...



- You don’t understand Belena, this cult insn’t the only one plotting to bring down the emperor. I heard disturbing rumors on Alexandria, of other cults, more powerful than this one... If they succeed in murdering the emperor, the empire will go trough flame and death again, and none of us wants this.

I heard stories... Disturbing stories about the years that followed the murder of Comodus. With the central power in dispute, there was no one to control what happened in the streets. Riots broke out, pillaging, personal debts were paid in blood. My own grandfather was murdered in one of the riots in Alexandria...

It is something we have to do... To preserve what we have and who we love. Aquila will not survive if this plan goes through. They will go after all the Severans to make sure there will be no retribution.



“ So that’s !” - Aurelianus thought - ”that’s why she wears the veil. She is Aquila Severa, Elagabalus second wife!... But how did she came to be married with Hadrianus? How did he meet the imperial family”



But those questions were to be answered in another time, in a place beyond the sea.

They agreed t leave that same night toward Alexandria. They slept during the daytime, to gain there strength.



Night came, and the shadows moved around the house.