. He threw the unconscious body of Messalina on the bed and stood over her. Dim moonlight fell across Septimus face as he studied his prizeHow beautiful she was. His eyes caressed the curve of her breasts and traced their way down to the swell of her hip. He felt the heat of urgent desire to take her rising through his body. He leaned down over her so close that his face was only inches from hers. He touched her perfect lips with his index finger and resisted, for now the urge to possess her.
Messalina moaned. She was coming to. Septimus got up quickly and went to his medicine box. Quickly he searched until he found the little vile. This would work. Finding a goblet half filled with rancid wine he poured a few drops of the drug into it.
Gently he lifted her head. She was far enough from consciousness to drink without protest.
"There now, my dear," He said in an eerily perfect imitation of Pomponia's voice. "Drink this and you will feel better. Half the wine ran down Messalina's chin yet he managed to help her finish the goblet off.
Her eyes fluttered open just long enough to recognize him. They widened in horror then the drug overtook her and she was out.
She would be out for a long time. Time enough to get away.
Septimus stood up and looked around the room. How to get her out of town without anyone seeing? His eyes fell upon a thin carpet in the center of the bedroom.
Half an hour later, having found a horse that he was sure no one would miss till morning Septimus carried the rug containing Messalina over his shoulder out into the alley where he flung it over the front of the animal. One of Messalina's earrings slipped from within the rolled carpet and fell into a crack between the paving stones. He sprang up behind the carpet, took up the reins and gave a sharp jab to the horse's ribs. The horse reared in protest but was no match to Septimus mastery of him. Hooves clattered on the paving stones and rang out echoing off the walls of the narrow alley. Septimus rode off toward the gates of the city.
Within minutes they were cleared of town and heading at a furious gallop to points unknown.

As the litter bearing Dianna Terentius crested the hill Green Acres came into view.
"Now there is an impressive villa, we must be nearing Rome." Dianna's slave Glycon said pointing to the place as he walked beside the litter.
Dianna, who was nearly a beautiful as her older sister Messalina looked up.
"Oh it is magnificent. Wait a moment. That must be the Villa of Sextus Manlius. Yes it is! Messalina described it perfectly to me."
"Maybe it would be a good idea to stop there until morning. I don't like traveling at night. It's not safe."
"Oh don't be such a scaredy cat Glycon. We're almost to the city. Besides I want to surprise Messalina, and arriving at night will add so much to it. Won't she be shocked to see us?"
"Yes indeed she will."
Just as they were making the curve at the bottom of the hill where the olive grove blocked the view of oncoming travelers a dark horse and rider suddenly appeared. He came on so fast that he nearly collided with Dianna's litter. In the confusion of slaves and galloping horse the litter and its entire contents of pillows, blankets and Dianna were dumped off the side of the road into a ditch. The dark rider didn't slow one bit and rode on shouting a curse at the overturned party behind him.
Glycon rushed to find Dianna in a tangle of pillows and fabrics.
"Are you alright my lady?"
Dianna pulled a blanket from over her tousled curls. "I think so. My goodness but people are in an awful hurry around here. It's worse than in Pompeii."
Glycon helped her to her feet and brushed her off. "He was going too fast. He nearly lost the rug he had slung over the horse."
“Why would a rug merchant be in such a hurry?” Dianna said checking to make sure she had not lost her earrings.
Once Glycon found his mistress to be all right he helped the barriers to right the litter and help Dianna back into it.
"Onward now, and hurry." She said.
Dianna looked back up the hill to where the rider had just reached the top. He pulled his horse to a stop and looked back. The moon was behind him large and icy blue making him a black silhouette against it. The jittery horse pranced in place a bit and then reared up to paw at the air with his front legs. The dark rider pulled the horse into submission and in the next instant disappeared over the top of the hill.
_____________________

Having spent his childhood summers at his parent’s summer villa outside of Ostia Septimus knew every nook and cranny of the town. He turned his horse toward the docks where he had played hid and seek as a boy. The warehouse was deserted. It was a silk and cotton warehouse for ships from Egypt. He would be safe there until morning. Then when the docks were busy he could smuggle Messalina and himself on a ship bound for the East. Alexandria maybe. There he could set himself up as Messalina’s agent. With her beauty and his brains together they could make a lot of money in the worlds oldest profession. A profession Messalina had been preparing for all her life.

He dismounted and with Messalina safe in her rug slung over his shoulder found the old forgotten door on the side of the warehouse and jimmied it open. He laid Messalina upon an open bale of cotton and unfurled the rug. She was out but still breathing. It took a moment for him to find an oil lamp and with a flint he always carried he lit it. The soft light flickered and a sigh came from Messalina. He turned to see her cradled in the pile of downy cotton.
She was like a goddess sleeping on a cloud and the sight of her beauty nearly brought tears to his eyes. He had her now, alone, all alone, just for himself only.
Messalina opened her eyes and put her hand to her chin to rub it where he had hit her. She was still slightly drugged and it took her a moment to realize she was not at home in her bed. She bolted up and looked around.
Septimus stepped out of the shadows into the lamplight.
“You Bastard!” Her dark hair was tousled like a storm clouds rising off the sea. Her eyes flashed and he could see the flame of the lamp dancing within them. With her one remaining earring dancing from her shell like ear she looked like a pirate queen. She was magnificent in her anger.
“What do you think you are doing?” She demanded. “Take me home at once.”
“I’m afraid that is out of the question. Your life is about to change dramatically my dear.”
She looked about her. “Where are we?”
“At our point of no return.”
“You fool, they will kill you when they….”
“But they won’t find us. No one knows were we are and tomorrow we sail for Egypt.”
“Egypt.” Messalina laughed.
“But before the dawn comes we have some unfinished business,” He pointed to himself and then to her. “You and I.”
Messalina scooted back into the bale. “What did you have in mind?”
He walked with a scowling smile toward her like a panther on the prowl for fresh meat. He came closer until he blocked the light. He stood over her like the god of the underworld.
“Do you have to ask?”
“I’ll scream.”
“I know you will, just like you always did.”
He fell upon her feast where he knew he would never be satisfied.

With the rising of the sun Septimus came up with a plan. The silk and cotton warehouse was full of multicolored silks from which he fashioned a rich looking stola for himself complete with veil to cover his head and beard. He then at knifepoint forced Messalina to do the same with a bolt of cheap cotton.
He checked through the cracks in the slatted great doors to the harbor and saw that the ship for Egypt was docked and being loaded. All they had to do now was wait.
“It will never work.” Messalina said.
Septimus smiled and polished the blade of his dagger with the hem of his fine stola.
“You will do as I say if you want to see tomorrow.”
Messalina sunk into silence.
By noon the ship was ready to go. Septimus got Messalina to her feet and poked the dagger into her back. “Follow my lead my dear.”
The docks were teaming with sailors, slaves and merchants from the town. No one paid any attention to the tall lady and her slave as they made their way to the ship.
Messalina fought her urge to run or scream as she pushed her way through the throng with Septimus at her back.
Within moments they were on board.
“Can I help you my lady?” The captain of the vessel said to Septimus.
“Yes you can young man.” Septimus said in his perfect imitation of Pomponia.
Messalina looked at him in shock at the perfection of his impersonation and despite everything found the comedy in the situation and fought back her urge to laugh. “You can sell us passage for two to Alexandria. We are going there to visit my sister. Though she and I don’t get along I have to make the trip to tell her of our father’s death…” The captains eyes glazed as Septimus went on with the long tedious story of the two old sisters and their life story.
“Alright! Alright just pay my first mate over there and you’re on your way to your reunion.”
He pushed past them to see to more important business.
Septimus flirted with the handsome first mate as he forked over the required fair.
“Cast off!” The captain yelled.
Messalina whirled around to see the gangplank pulled away and the sailors tossing the ropes that held the ship to the dock to the to the men below. The ship began to drift slowly away from the shore. This can’t be happening! She thought as her eyes searched the dock for some miracle.
At that moment Marcus, Arrius, and Macro turned from a side street onto the docks. Messalina saw them and broke free from Septimus to rush to the rail of the ship. Septimus was instantly at her side with his dagger in her ribs. “Steady now.” He whispered. “It’s too late for your boys to save you.”
A stiff gust of wind came up and blew the veil from Messalina’s head to reveal her in the full light of the sun.
Macro who had been scanning the dock along with the rest saw her first.
“Look!” He shouted. “She’s on that ship!”
She ship had cleared the dock just enough for the oars to be dropped into the water and slowly to the beat of the oar driver it began to turn to the sea.
“Wave goodbye to your friends Messalina.” Septimus said as he raised his arm to bid them all farewell.