Coventina (7 page)

“Quintus, in this day and age, very low forms of human life, perhaps the lowest criminals of all, kidnap or trick women into sexual slavery. It is believed that Coventina and Anna were abducted in Rome by this type of criminal.”

Quintus fell back against the wall they were standing by. “Inquilina, I.”

“There is a ray of hope Quintus. We know where her family lives. Layla and I will visit them tomorrow morning to gather as much information that we can to help us find her. The other ray of hope you have is Layla and myself, for we are not your average human beings.”

“May I accompany you in the morning, to meet with her family?”

What do you think?
Denise asked.

He is crushed; I sense it, so of course,
Layla said.

“Of course,” Denise said.

“Well, we can’t very well stay out here all night can we?” Layla said.

“No, that is why I have already taken the liberty to rent us rooms at the Hilton just across the river,” Denise said. “Before we head over there I have something for all of you.” She handed each of the six legionnaires an envelope full of one hundred dollar bills. The envelope she handed Lucilla was larger and held much more cash. “When we get to Italy, you are going to need a ride, so make arrangements for one large enough for yourself and the others. If our vehicle were large enough it would not be necessary. In addition, Layla and I are going to be very busy.”

“Thank you Denise,” Layla smiled.

“Well, I hope it is as easy to hail a taxi here as it is in Chicago,” Denise said.

They headed down the hill where they only had to wait a few minutes before a taxi stopped to pick them up. Lucilla accompanied the legionnaires, Layla and Denise following in the Mustang.

“So, what sort of sleeping arrangement do we have tonight?” Layla asked.

“A family room for the legionnaires, a single room for us, and a single room for Lucilla and Marcus.”

“Really? You are sure she will approve?”

“She already has,” Denise smiled.

“What is this that Inquilina gave to each of us?” Venutius asked.

“It is the current form of currency that you will use to buy things, as you did with coins,” Lucilla said. She noticed the driver glancing at her in the rear view mirror and wondered if he spoke Latin.

“Will we be able to tour the city tomorrow?” Petilius asked.

“That is my plan, to return to the site of the original fortress built by Roman legions so long ago,” she said, putting her finger over her mouth and moved her head from side to side signaling for them to not speak about who they actually were.”

“I anxiously await a new day then,” Petilius smiled.

The taxi pulled up in front of the hotel with the Mustang behind them. Layla waited in the car until Denise found out about parking. The others followed her inside.

The hotel was a magnificent modern space inside a building whose exterior had a medieval flair. Lucilla accompanied Quintus and the others to their room and helped them settle in before heading to her room with Marcus.

“Well honey, this is going to be one hell of a strange trip,” Layla said, walking back to the hotel after parking the Mustang.

“Yeah. I don’t know where to begin,” Denise said.

“Tomorrow may change all of that.”

“We shall see.”

Heworth

Denise gazed out the hotel restaurant window at Cliffords Tower, the remnants of a fortress complex from the Middle Ages that had been repeatedly sacked by invaders and sighed before speaking. “I often imagine where humanity would be as a species had it chosen a different path eons ago?”

“A path other than?” Layla asked before taking another sip of her coffee.

“Greed. I think greed has been the cause of most of humanity’s crimes and atrocities over the ages. Oh sure, humans have found other reasons to hate and kill each other, but greed I believe is the root cause of most of it. Imagine how different things would be had we not evolved placing such great value on something like a metal, gold for instance? Imagine if, from the beginning, we worked for each other rather than trying to conquer or destroy one another?”

“Quintus, did members of your legion ever question why you were sent off to war, to conquer and occupy other countries?” Layla asked.

“Often. After years of war, I simply could not hate those who fought us any more. After meeting and falling in love with Coventina I planned on retiring from the legion.”

“And what would you say was the root cause of Rome’s constant expansion and seemingly endless wars to acquire more?” Denise asked.

“I believe it is the reason you have put forth. When we were at the height of our glory, the world was a monstrous place of constant danger. Rome brought order to many places it needed to forcibly conquer. Had we not expanded our empire, we would have come under constant attack from many different peoples.”

“Better to fight them on their turf hey?” Layla said.

“Yes, that is one way of looking at it.”

“But did warring and conquering so many different people actually make them hate you more?” Denise asked.

“Undoubtedly some did, but many welcomed the order of Rome, the way their lives improved when we arrived, that is when we were not killing each other a least.”

Their breakfast was delivered, French toast for Denise and Layla and a full English breakfast for Quintus.

“So, what do you think of coffee?” Denise smiled.

“It seems a perfect beverage with which to start the day,” Quintus said.

Throughout breakfast, they answered questions asked of each other. By the time they were ready to leave, Layla had quite a different opinion of Quintus, one that she welcomed. He was a man who experienced the absolute worst humanity was capable of sinking to, yet he was a loving being who divorced himself from it all in exchange for love and hopefully peace.

“Well, we should get started,” Denise said, summoning the waitress for the bill.

“Yes, I have a funny feeling that after today we are not going to be in the U.K. very long,” Layla said.

They paid the bill, left a hefty tip, made it out to the Mustang and headed for Heworth where Coventina’s family lived. It was a gorgeous morning that promised to remain sunny throughout the day.

Layla piloted the Mustang around and through much of York heading to their destination.

“Inquilina.”

“Please Quintus, call me Denise.”

“Denise.”

“Yes?”

“When you mentioned the two of you as a ray of hope, as being other than average human beings, what did you mean? Are you from another world as well?”

“No, but it was beings from another world who brought out that which we had in us.”

“What were they like?”

“They were very human, and obviously not human. They were what I wished humans had evolved into actually.”

“How did you come to meet them? Were you taken?”

“They approached us for help because they knew what powers we had within that would manifest themselves and they could help us to control.”

“Why did they approach you?”

“Two members of their crew were abducted. We helped them find them.”

“Were you successful?”

“Yes we were.”

Layla thought she saw a tear roll down Quintus’ cheek when she glanced up at the rear view mirror. “Hey, it can’t be much further at all,” she said.

“It should be up on the right, there. That’s it,” Denise said.

Layla turned into the driveway and past two light poles that had large yellow ribbons attached to them.

“Remember Quintus, you are an investigator from Italy, just in case they speak Latin or Italian,” Denise said.

“I will remain silent Denise.”

They exited the car and made their way to the front door where Layla rang the bell.

A blonde middle-aged woman opened the door. She had the appearance one might expect of a person who’d recently been put through hell.

“Esther?” Denise said.

“Yes.”

“I am Denise, we spoke on the phone.”

“Of course, won’t you please come in?”

“This is Layla, a dear friend of mine and Quintus, who speaks little to no English. He is an investigator from Italy.”

“Please be seated. Can I get you something, tea perhaps?”

“No thank you, we’re good. We just had breakfast. Can you tell us all that you know?”

Esther stood up and walked over to a cabinet, returning with a paper portfolio containing a large stack of papers in her hand. “My son James put this together for you. It gives you a physical copy to take with you of all we know, complete with their travel itinerary, recent images of her and Anna,” she said, weeping when she returned to her seat.

Denise handed the packet to Layla who leafed through it. “So this was simply a vacation, to Rome only?” Layla asked.

“Yes. Coventina and Anna are both artists. They were traveling there to see some of the world’s grandest art first hand. In addition, in a way, it was a return to a home away from home. She had traced our roots back to pre-Roman times and found that undoubtedly we had Roman ancestors.”

Layla could see that Quintus was becoming very curious about the conversation, especially when he heard Esther mention Rome and Romans.
Quintus, she is telling us that Coventina traced her ancestry back to pre-Roman days and that this family definitely has Roman ancestors.

Layla, you communicate as our friends upstairs do. Thank you.

“When was the last time you spoke with her?” Layla asked.

“They called from Rome airport to let us know they made it there safely,” Esther said quietly.

“Nothing after that?” Denise asked.

“No.”

“How did you come to believe that she was abducted?” Layla asked.

“Police found their suitcases and one of their telephones on a street in Rome. Actually they said some honest citizen found them and turned them in to a police station.”

“Do you have any contacts in Italy who have been working on this?” Denise said.

“James put everything in that packet.”

“May we see her room?” Layla asked.

“Of course. This way please.”

They were greeted by a painting on the wall when they entered the bedroom.

“Did she paint this?” Denise asked.

“Yes. It is a self portrait in oils,” Esther said. “She can speak Italian fluently.”

Perhaps it will give her an edge, if her abductors are Italian or are speaking Italian.
Layla said.

If.

“Do you have something of her’s that has not been laundered, something she wore or bed linens?” Layla asked.

“Yes. I have not laundered anything since she left. Here. I am certain she wore this the day she was here packing for her trip,” Esther said, handing Layla a long deep red V-neck t-shirt.

“May I take it with us?” Denise asked.

“Yes, of course. Help yourself to anything that might help.”

Layla pulled a sheet off the bed and gently wrapped the folded t-shirt in it.

“Esther, did Coventina ever show evidence of an interest in the occult?”

“No, not that I know of. She has always been able to finish my sentences when speaking if she chooses to. She jokingly used to say she was a witch when I asked her how she was able to do that.”

“Thank you.”

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

I am if you are.
Layla said.

What are you thinking?
Quintus asked.

That with any luck we might be able to communicate with her like this,
Denise said.

Before leaving, they told Esther not to worry. “It just clutters your thinking and solves nothing,” Denise said.

“I’ll try, but it’s not easy.”

“I cannot promise you anything other than this. We will do everything in our power to try and find your loved ones. We’ve a personal reason to take a special interest in her disappearance.” Denise said.

“Special interest?” Esther sighed.

“Yes, very special indeed.”

Roman Column

Lucilla watched the Mustang approach and park a short distance from where they were standing. Marcus and the others stood around the Roman Column reminiscing. When Lucilla explained to them that their Roman York was beneath the street somewhere, most found it hard to believe.

“Where is Quintus?” Lucilla asked.

“He asked to be dropped off at the hotel, so we made sure he got to the room okay,” Layla said.

“Looks like all they need is a campfire and some wine,” Denise smiled, motioning to the legionnaires.

“Did you have any luck today?”

“Did not find out much more than we already knew, but the mother supplied us with all the information they have,” Layla said.

“We want to press on to Rome immediately. There is no need for the others to rush along with us,” Denise said.

“I think I had better stay with them for obvious reasons,” Lucilla smiled.

“Yes, well you do seem to have a calming effect on them. I can’t imagine what they are all thinking and feeling being back, especially back here,” Layla said.

“There is that, and the language barrier,” Denise grinned.

“I think I am genuinely smitten by Marcus,” Lucilla said.

“You might have some very important decisions to make in a few days then,” Denise said.

“Indeed.”

“How about the others? Any romantic nibbles today?” Layla asked.

“Well, they are all very attractive to and attracted by women, but all are anxious to get to Rome.”

“Quintus has already made arrangements with the friends upstairs to pick you all up and get you to Rome tomorrow. I take it you are okay traveling alone with them?” Denise said.

“Very much so. Marcus will not let anything happen to me,” Lucilla smiled. “How are you going to get there?”

“We’re driving,” Layla said.

“And flying,” Denise added. They proceeded to quickly fill Lucilla in about all they did for and with the members of the Tyrine.”

“Wow. I can understand now why these men were pointed in your direction,” Lucilla said.