News reached Messalina just as she was readying to leave Alexandria for Petra. A fire had swept through part of her villa in Rome. The kitchens and most of the west wing were gone.
There was nothing to be done but go home and see to the rebuilding of her home. She sent word on to Petra, Antioch, Athens and Corinth that the rest of her tour was canceled.
She stood on the deck of the ship as it sailed out of Alexandria at dusk and looked back at the city that had loved her so.
“I will return someday.” She whispered. “I promise.”