The Mustang came to a complete stop in stealth next to Aaron. Inside, Denise, Layla, Coventina and Quintus looked at him sitting behind the wheel of the Mercedes. They could see the anguish on his face. When he reached to start it up, Layla pulled past him so he would have enough room to pull out and leave. After looking back one more time to see if he could catch a last glimpse of Rosina, he pulled out of the parking spot and drove off.
“She just turned the corner a block up,” Denise said.
“We can follow her from above,” Layla said.
“That won’t be necessary. I know where she is heading. I’ve seen it.”
“Someone’s coming up behind us,” Layla said. She raised the Mustang to rooftop level and hovered.
“Does she have help?” Coventina asked.
“No. She is alone, but very dangerous,” Denise said. She felt uneasy because her vision was not clear. One thing was certain though. It might not be as easy as the dawn raid at Mario’s.
“Which way captain?”
“There,” Denise said, pointing out the right lower corner of the front windshield. “Let’s locate her first to see if I’m right.”
Layla steered them over an area that was bathed in darkness compared to the street they were just on, although spotlights lighted some of the more important ruins.
“There. Coming out of the cover of those trees,” Coventina said.
“Good eyes. That’s her. Yes, just what I saw. Wait until she gets past that spot right there and touch down.”
“There are no lights where she is heading,” Layla said.
“No, and very clever actually. Aaron must have told her we are not armed with firearms.”
“She’s inviting us in, for close combat,” Layla said.
“We must assume she is armed to the teeth.”
“How will we know where she is once inside?”
“She is going to head to the very center of the arena where we must also assume she will be able to hear or see us coming.”
Why not just get her to throw her weapons away? Layla asked.
Because Coventina and Quintus asked that I don’t. If it looks like they are going to lose however.
They quietly exited the Mustang in stealth and made their way to the Arena. The breeze was filled with the scent of grass, the moon above just bright enough to add a pale glow to all that was not lit around them.
Layla led the way through the same doorway into the Arena that Rosina slipped through. She thought it best to lead them in, even though the shields on their medallions were activated. She stopped a few steps into the long walkway that led to the floor of the amphitheater. She is going to hear us, if she hasn’t already.
There are other ways in, if you want to do some climbing. Quintus said.
She has been her before. She knows the layout and the sounds so there is no doubt in my mind she knows we are already here. Let’s get this over with, Denise said.
Slowly, and as quietly as possible, Layla said.
No matter how slowly they moved down the concrete and brick tunnel, the grit that had collected on the stones they walked upon reverberated every little sound they made. It reminded Denise of being in a few of the caves they had visited in Southern Illinois and Missouri.
They could feel the breeze wafting down the tunnel as they moved closer to the entrance that required a turn to the left. Stop before you go through that entrance, Denise said.
Layla peeked around the corner. There is at least another twenty to thirty feet before we get out there.
Okay. Move slowly and along the walls. Denise sighed.
The ground they moved over still made it all but impossible for them to mask their approach, even though the closer they got to the open air it no longer seemed to reverberate.
I see her, smack dab in the middle of the arena, Layla said.
From here let’s move quickly. Once through the doorway we will break left. Quintus and Coventina, you break right. Let’s give her more than one target to think about.
Okay. On the count of three. One, two, three. Layla said.
They moved quickly past the entrance and out into the open arena making what Denise thought sounded like earth shattering noise as the gravel under their feet announced their arrival and every move.
Layla heard the louder dull thud hit the ground. “Grenade,” she screamed just before it went off. It knocked her and Denise to the ground even with their shields activated.
“Are you okay?” Denise said.
“Fuck that was loud. Yes. I think so.”
We are in one piece, Quintus said.
Just as he finished talking, Rosina opened up with one of her Uzis. From where she stood, once the grenade went off, she could see its effect bouncing off their shields. She sprayed across the area she thought they would be in a sweeping motion. “Tracer rounds,” she laughed as she saw the rounds more clearly careening off in all directions once they hit the shields.
Quintus, be wary of anything she might throw. It is much more powerful. Denise said.
The dirt surface they were on was just as noisy as the walk in. When Denise and Layla ran further to the left to get her looking in two directions, Rosina saw the little puffs of dirt rise that their feet kicked up. She pulled the clip on another grenade, but rather than throw it in the direction of them running, she tossed it in the direction of where she thought Quintus and Coventina might be. When it exploded, once again she could see bits of shrapnel being repelled by their shields. With the other Uzi she sprayed the two cloaked figures, the tracer rounds coming so fast she could see a silhouette of each of them. “Which one of you is my Water Goddess bitch?” she said quietly, as she quickly reloaded each Uzi. Once finished she sprayed the area where Denise and Layla stood. “So there are four of you I see.”
Quintus, get ready to rush her, Denise said. Baby can you make it sound like someone is coming up behind her in this gravely dirt?
I think so.
Quintus. Get ready to rush her as soon as she turns around. Layla, make it so.
Layla waited for her to finish emptying her weapon again. From a kneeling position she made the gravel shift from the doorway on the opposite end of the arena. Rosina turned and sprayed rounds from the other Uzi in that direction. When she did, Quintus and Coventina rushed across the field towards her. She swirled back in the direction she heard footsteps coming from. As she did, she quickly pulled the clips of two more grenades and hurled each one in the direction her four opponents had been. They had already moved however, and the grenades exploded far enough away for her to see any shrapnel effect on their shields. In the middle of reloading her weapons, Quintus slammed into her with the force of a linebacker, throwing her to the ground. The Uzis flew out of her hands when she landed. Her four opponents now stood above her as she moaned.
Watch her hands, Layla said.
The sound of police sirens could be heard in the distance.
“Rosina Stucco,” Coventina said, keeping her shield up but coming out of stealth.
Rosina looked up to see the tall figure standing before her in the pale moonlight, Gladius in hand. She said nothing. Seeing Coventina standing before her filled her with rage.
“Stand up.”
She struggled to her feet, still silent.
“You are hereby charged with the murder of my family. You’ve been found guilty of this crime. Your sentence is death,” Coventina said coldly.
In that instant, knowing they did not have firearms, Rosina reached quickly for the two remaining grenades. She quickly pulled the pins and tossed the one in her left hand towards Layla and Denise. It exploded harmlessly off the added shield Layla had silently erected around the four of them. With a sweeping motion, Coventina’s Gladius separated her right arm holding the second grenade from her body. It landed on the ground, the hand still squeezing the grenade that did not go off. Layla quickly sent her arm flying towards a back wall where it exploded. Rosina screamed in pain and horror as the sound
of the police sirens stopped. Denise could see lights flashing outside the Amphitheater.
Coventina’s Gladius entered her chest where her heart was with such force its pointed razor sharp tip protruded from her back. She removed the sword that was followed by a massive gush of blood. Rosina fell to the ground dead.
“Coventina. Activate your stealth. I can see lights coming down the entrance,” Layla said.
She did as Layla asked, wiped the Gladius in her cloak, and returned it to the scabbard.
“Let’s slip out as quietly as possible,” Denise said.
Nearly a dozen uniformed policemen carrying flashlights stormed in to the Arena. It was not difficult to slip by them unnoticed with all the noise they were making.
Once outside, they walked back to the Mustang and got in.
“This looks like an amazing place,” Layla said.
“Yes. We must come back one day for a visit,” Denise said, as the Mustang quietly climbed straight up before heading towards France.
78
Decisions
Denise and Layla actually slept late for a change, after getting to bed late. They awoke at eleven a.m. to find everyone preparing a final feast. It was Decision Day for all but them, should they stay or should they go.
“Good morning,” Aja smiled. “I can’t believe you were able to sleep so long with all the noise we are making.”
“Good morning,” Denise said.
“Decision Day feast,” Aja said quietly.
“Oh, that’s right. Now I know I am still half asleep. A shower will help.”
“And coffee of course,” Aja laughed.
“Absolument.”
“Come on,” Denise said, taking a very sleepy looking Layla by the hand to join her in a wakeup shower.
“How long does everybody have?” Aja asked.
“Until midnight,” Coventina said.
Whoever was not cooking was outside preparing the tables at which they would eat.
Within the hour, the shower was finished, the first cups of coffee downed, and the cooking finished.
“What can we do help?” Denise asked.
“Nothing,” Aja said. “Actually my dear friends, this feast is in your honor.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Come on darlin’,” Denise smiled, taking Layla by the hand as they walked out the front door.
They were greeted with smiles from everyone.
“Oh my. Looks like a few of you got to do some shopping yesterday,” Denise said, looking beyond the table set for the feast to a large stack of items they had purchased for those leaving to take with them.
“Yes. Amazing how long a list of items can get if you know you won’t be coming back for a very long time if at all,” Anna giggled. “Lots and lots of music.”
“Actually, the way they can replicate things it probably wasn’t necessary, but, after all, we’re only human,” Diana laughed.
It was finally time to sit down to eat. Coventina started with offering a toast. “To Denise and Layla, without whom none of us would be here today.”
Everyone took a drink of their wine before giving them a standing ovation.
The table was filled with fish, chicken, assorted vegetable dishes, fruit and of course, French pastries.
Midway through the meal, Quintus stood up to offer another toast. “I offer a toast, to my dearest friend Marcus. We have been through so much together. We have saved each other’s lives more than once. I am going to miss you my dear friend.”
Everyone raised his or her glass, but there was no applause. Everyone knew that the toast meant Marcus would not be leaving.
“So,” Denise started, looking at Lucilla with a wide smile, “what has everyone else decided?”
“I too will remain here,” Lucius said, before turning to Aja to kiss her.
“Okay, you won’t be alone,” Layla said, smiling at Marcus.
“Anyone else staying?” Denise asked.
Petilius shook his head from side to side and kissed Maria. Anna threw her arms around Odumnus and Coventina sitting alongside her and smiled. “Where my dearest friends on this planet or any other planet go, I go.”
“I guess you know my answer,” Diana laughed before attacking Venutius passionately.
“Who needs more wine?” Layla laughed.
She walked around the table filling everyone’s glasses.
They partied until the sun went down, eating, drinking, and dancing.
Mys and company arrived around 9 p.m. to collect them all but Aja, Lucius, Lucilla and Marcus. After beaming their belongings aboard, everyone and the Mustang followed. In its place appeared a burgundy Mustang. Denise had given Mys the okay to reverse engineer her gift from the members of the Tyrine as a gift to Aja for all her help, including all the lessons on how to operate it.
The night settled into the sights and sounds of a French summer evening, the moon glowing in the night sky, as each couple headed to their own building for the night.
79
Departure
Aya and Mys seemed to float in front of the view outside their craft as they made their way across the Atlantic back to Southern Illinois.
“Aja is really going to love that vehicle,” Denise smiled.
“Be sure to give her my number in case she has any questions,” Layla giggled.
Here, Mys said, handing Denise and Layla what looked like jewelry cases. These are for you.
They opened the cases to reveal elegantly decorated medallions.
“They are beautiful, thank you very much,” Denise said.
“They are indeed, thank you.” Layla smiled.
“How silly of us. You’ll be wanting these back,” Denise said, removing the medallion given to them earlier. Layla did the same.
“What do the markings mean?” Layla asked.
They show you where in the cosmos your friends will start their new lives, Aya said.
Layla looked at the medallion puzzled.
Would you like me to show you?
“Yes, please.”
Aya moved closer, extended one hand over the medallion and pointed the other towards a wall Mys had moved to, that was illuminated somehow with the image of the medallion in Layla’s hand. Mys, if you would please.
This is our galaxy, which you can find here. The image changed, as if the view was rapidly pulling away from it, until it revealed the constellations of Leo and Virgo. The medallion also shows the home of your friends on the Tyrine in relation to the new home of Quintus and the others.
“Leo Constellation. Thanks. It would have taken me quite a while to figure that one out,” Layla laughed.
Denise could see from the screen they had already reached North America and were zipping across the eastern United States heading west. “Maybe some day we will be able to pay them a visit.”
I believe one day you just might, Aya said.
“Is it allowed Aya?” Denise asked, holding her arms out as one would to hug someone.
It is.
Denise hugged her gently, experiencing a tingling sensation when she did. “That was nice,” she smiled.
Layla did the same, each of them moving from Aya to Mys.
We are over your home, Aya said.
Come, Mys motioned, seeming to float as she led them through the doorway to the Mustang, where the others were waiting.
They began their final goodbyes. Denise actually saw a tear roll down the cheek of Diana who until this moment had seemed so hardened by what she had been through. She knew what it meant. She was happy to be alive, to be free and in love.
They finally got to Quintus and Coventina. “Layla, this is for you, to remember us,” he said, handing her a Gladius in a magnificently crafted scabbard.
“Why thank you, so very much Quintus,” she said before kissing him on both cheeks.
“And this Denise, is for you,” Coventina smiled, handing her the very bracelet Anna lent to her to aid in locating and reco
vering her from those that held her captive. “To remember me.”
Denise thought she looked like a goddess in the light shining on her from overhead. “Thank you my dear. Enjoy your new life.” They hugged and kissed, as women who are friends do.
“You know, I have this funny feeling we will meet again,” Layla grinned, holding up her case with the medallion inside.
“I believe one day we shall, here, or in the afterlife,” Quintus smiled.
“Goodbye, dear friends,” Denise said.
They got into the Mustang to the sound of goodbye being offered by the four couples. The immediate area was cleared and the Mustang departed, touching down on Southern Illinois grass between their home and the barn that housed the other Mustang.
In what sounded like a whisper, the light disappeared and the craft seemed to vanish as it sped into the heavens. After a long moment of silence, the sounds of a beautiful Southern Illinois night filled the air.
“We are home baby,” Layla said.
“Home,” Denise said, leaning over to kiss the woman she loved.
80
Starry Night
“I wonder how far they’ve gotten?” Layla asked.
She and Denise lay out on a blanket on their property near Makanda. The full moon did not make for the best star gazing night, but it had been more than a month since they all parted ways, and it was Layla’s birthday wish.
“I wonder if they were even going in that direction first? I forgot to ask,” Denise sighed.
“I know what you’re thinking?”
“Really?” Denise smiled. “Maybe I really am rubbing off on you.”
“Yep. You’re thinking about just how nice it would be to travel, out there.”
“Yes I was.”
“I have to pee, I’ll be right back, don’t go away,” Layla giggled.
“Bring out the other bottle of wine when you return.”
“Affirmative.”
Denise gazed up at the sky full of stars and smiled.
“Here you are, give me your glass,” Layla said after returning.
She topped off their glasses.
“I never drank this much wine before meeting those Romans,” Denise laughed. “What do you have there?”
“The gift they left us.”
“That moon is so bright it makes it easy to see the details on it.”
“Have you ever wondered what it would be like, to have an entire world to yourself, I mean just you and a handful of other couples?” Denise asked.