As the kiss progressed Messalina knew she had him exactly where she wanted him, one foot upon the spring that would close the silken trap that would ensnare him and make him hers. Their lips parted briefly and then he moved to her neck to taste the tenderness there and then down to the top of her breasts. She entwined the fingers of her left hand amongst the curls of his head. Slowly she raised her eyes to Macro and gave the prearranged sign.
Macro passed the signal on. The music swelled, nearly nude dancers emerged from the shadows and swirled to the exotic strains. Some dressed as naiads took hold of silken ropes, crossed the open front of the curtained dais and pulling from opposite sides they closed the drapes of purple and gold encasing Messalina and her new conquest in a perfumed cocoon.
As low rhythmic drums were added to the music a golden net above the lovers began to sway releasing pink and orange petals of roses that floated softly though the heavy air down over the bodies of Messalina and Marcus who by now were aware of nothing but their pleasure.
Here in the gardens of Messalina did Marcus discover the perfection of love. With each act of passion he found he was famished for more of the same until the first rays of sun outshone the low sputtering lamps of night.
Shortly after dawn Marcus spent from the nights entertainment fell into a brief sleep. When he awoke at the ninth hour Messalina was gone. Macro was standing by the open drapes nearly knee deep in rose petals. His expression was one of slight annoyance.
“My lady begs your pardon. She has retired.”
Marcus shocked that she had deserted him with out a word pushed past Macro and went to Messalina’s bedroom. The bed was empty.

He turned to find Macro and equally massive Apollonius standing in the doorway. “May I show you the way to the door?” Macro said. Marcus smiled in gentlemanly fashion. “Of course.” With Macro on one side and Apollonius on the other he was escorted to the street. The door was slammed behind him and he heard the bolt slide solidly into place locking him out.
It was reported in Rome that very morning that the statue of Venus in the temple at the forum of Julius Caesar had turned in the night on her pedestal and that her right hand now pointed southwest toward the Janiculum hill where Messalina slept soundly the sleep of the victor. The citizens of the capital wondered if it was an omen of good for the Empire or a portent of disaster.

The following morning Messalina....(Note: The book ends abruptly here. The rest of the story by Suetonius is lost in the mists of history. We can only guess at what happened to Messalina and her consorts for no record has yet been found of the out come.}

(BORROWED WITH PERMISSION FROM MASALA CAESAR.)"Why Masala, what are you doing here? I thought you were at the banquet ensnared as always by my sister?" inquired the Lady Dianna.
Masala flashed that grin of his, half filled with warmth and affection, and half with playful mischief. “I have a long list of clients to meet and several cohorts of men that need to be taught to both fear and love me. These matters cannot be managed on the heels of a late night of frivolity. And besides, your sister, as always, has not the eyes for me. I thought it best to give the love birds their nest back”, said Masala feigning indifference.
There was a moment of awkwardness as the pair reacquainted themselves to each other’s presence. She had grown to be such a beautiful woman, soft of lips and full of breast. He was taller with that muscular build that only the legions could produce. His once long blond hair was now neatly cut as befitting an officer in the military. By grace of the Gods, neither had to break the silence as Pomponia burst into the light. “You can’t fool me Masala! You never could! And don’t give me that innocent “who me” smile. It didn’t work when the pair of you stole into the wine cellar when you were 9 and it won’t work now!”
“Ahhh Pomponia, we were such rascals, weren’t we?” said Masala now grinning more broadly than ever.
“No, you were good children. I would have those times again.” said Pomponia affectionately.
Again downplaying his desires, “Well there is only one man that I know of that has the excitement and charisma to maintain Messalina’s interests, but I’m married to the empire!” Massala’s eyes grew wide as he reached his punch line.
Engaged by the lighthearted conversation, Dianna forgot the troubles of the day just for a moment. “You were doomed from the start anyway, Masala. You are cursed because you are the only suitor that Messalina has ever had that Pomponia has liked! You carry the curse of Pomponia”, she laughed while wiggling her fingers as if casting a spell.
“Now you flatter me, but you know I have always coveted Pomponia’s trust.”
“No Masala, I’ve always loved you since you were that rascal child, but I know better than to trust you. You are, after all, still a man”, Pomponia corrected. “Now both of you bid me a good night.” Offering a cheek to each of them and receiving a kiss on both, she turned and was off to retire for the night.
“Dianna, I have not seen you in so long. I missed you at dinner. I was hoping to get some moments to catch up with you.”
“It’s just been a hectic day, Masala. I’m sorry, I missed you as well”, she replied as she brushed the hair back from her face with her hand.
“Well it’s settled then. You should come with me for a special dinner. We’ll talk of old times and share stories. I’ll even give you a tour of the garrison itself.” With a wicked grin, “Some of the men will be practicing half naked in the hot sun with their wooden swords. If you are good, I might even let you watch!” Dianna laughed again as Masala continued, “Tomorrow, will be too hectic and the next day is the trial of Septimus. Will you meet me the day after?”
Dianna’s first instinct was to say yes, but then the reality of Arrius came flooding back to her. “Masala, I’m not sure I need to….”
“Check your schedule in the daylight and let me know what day suits you best. I simply won’t take “no” for an answer.”
The two exchanged one more silent moment together. This time though, Masala saw something different. It was almost as if he was looking at someone new. Then the silence was broken as they said good night and he gave her a kiss.
“Not bad for my first day in Rome,” thought Masala to himself. “A quick rest and then I need to find Desdemona before the sun rises. The world of political intrigues still lays ahead.”

(BORROWED WITH PERMISTION FROM MASALA CAESAR)
And so it was that Masala’s mind was always at work, always planning, always scheming. He looked for the strengths and weaknesses within himself as well as those around him. A truer more loyal friend there was not, but he always played to win. To him, his excesses of wine and women were no more than a vice, not a flaw. The chink in his armor, which he knew quite well, was love.
“I have two problems that need to be dealt with here. The first is Marcus Flaccus Valarius. He is a good respectable man, fair and just. I do like him rather much. But by what folly led him to rescue the Lady Messalina and allow this Septimus character to live? What fool’s errand it was to bring him back for trial. Hmmm… his hero’s image would be rather tarnished if events were to unfold in an “unexpected” way!”
Masala continued to stroll in darkness and solitude as the necessary courses of action began to solidify in his mind.
“What a shame it would be if Septimus managed to escape. There would be no repercussions to me after all if he managed to get away. I don’t officially take command until tomorrow. NO no no. Not good at all. The men are not so endeared to me yet. It will be some time before I have such strength of allegiance in them. Ahhhhhh, but there will be a trial. Perhaps his case is not as open and closed as we all think? It shouldn’t take the ghost of Cicero to defend this cur. Why any blind man, with enough lucrative incentive, could be made to see how Septimus was simply trying to rescue her himself.”
The corners of Masala’s lips finally began to curl up again in earnest.
“And after Septimus is acquitted and leaves the city walls, my men will be there to greet him outside the gates and exact the punishment and execution he should have had upon his capture. Messalina will be furious and blame Marcus for allowing the reprobate to slip out from under his fingers yet once more. Perfect! One rival removed without causing any real foul to the Aedile himself”
Feeling comforted with the knowledge that a plan of action was set, he plodded on to address what he felt was the more dire of situations.
“The second problem is that Messalina still thinks of me as the love struck puppy carrying her baggage home from the markets. To this day, she takes my affections for granted because she knows I would die for her. I have not changed in her mind. BUT HOW DO YOU BEAT AN IMAGE? … But of course, Masala, you sly fox. I’ll tell you how, with a better one! If she can’t see me for what I am through her eyes, I’ll make her view me from the vantage of another’s eyes!”
With a renewed sense of confidence, Masala marched off to pay a visit to the chamber of one of his most cherished friends, the beautiful Lady Dianna.