Heaven Help Us

(okay forgive me if I take a few liberties with physical descriptions but just go with it okay..)

The Blond soldier stood tall and at attention. Even though he was no longer a soldier. He still chose to behave like a civilized man, even as his beloved homeland had declined into a cesspool around his ears.

HE was after all a Roman. The republic may be gone, but he was sure that one day, men would once again behave like men, and not the animals they had become.

What was the saying, 'When in Rome..do as the Romans do..'

And all of Rome had begun to act as the animal who called himself 'The Glory of Rome..'

The Man now he knew himself to be was ashamed to be called a Roman.

He had been a loyal servant of the imperials since he was a small boy, now as a man he could NOT follow the orders of a mad man. He was a soldier true and had to obey the emperor. But He KNEW the gods themselves, if they existed, would have been appalled at the monstrosities and atrosites this...DEMON was capable of.

It was one such order that was now costing Gerard his life.

Gerard his name meant "flaming sword", he had considered his sword that for the emperor to use as he saw fit. He thought himself to be a loyal Protector and Guardian to the throne. But the slaughter he had been commanded to lead...he would NOT, Could Not, even witness, let alone lead.

Now he knew, as he did at the moment he refused to particpate, that it would cost him his own life.

Gerard was not sure he had a soul. But if he did he knew that had he done the Emperors bidding he would have been Damned by the Gods for all time.

So it was that he found himself imprisioned with less than a day left to his life. He knew the emperor would ask him once more to beg forgiveness, and then to prove his loyalty to commit some heinous crime for the monster's pleasure.

But Gerard would Not. He had given up far too much to turn back now.

He had been a soldier almost ALL his life.

The monster that now ruled Rome had commanded his army to slaughter innocence. That had NOT been the first and Gerard was SURE it would NOT be the last.

But before it had been in times of war AND in distant lands.

This time it was not only on Roman soil. But in the very bosom of Gerard's beloved Roma herself, and the slaughter was of Romans.

Poor phelibians, living in one of Roma's ghettos. But they were innocent. Most of them were only guilty of having joined a misguided sect. And they were Still ROMANS none the less.

Gerard had once been a Centurion, dressed in the Imperial Red of Rome.

Now he wore the rags of a condemned man.

HE who had disobeyed direct orders to save Roman lives now would forfeit his own.

To please the Emperor. The Very monster who had ordained the slaughter.

He wanted more land for his new Imperial Palace. What did it matter to Nero that lives would be lost in his method of "reclaiming" the land.

So now he stood in these last hours of his life.

He would not cower. He would not beg. He would die as a TRUE Son of Rome should.
With Honour and Dignity.

He would NOT grovel. He would Not show fear of death.

He wasn't sure however, that he might not need fear punishment.

What if the the egyptians were right and a man's heart was weighed and measured to see if he was worthy of a life after this one?

What if indeed a man's sins followed him into the next world? WAS there a next world?

Gerard watched the sun set through the small street level window, for what he knew would be his last time. He had not much time left to worry about such things. There was little he could do to change things now as it was.

The guards of the arena took pleasure in taunting the comdemned. It was common to make sport of them. A former centurion was not only fair game, He was SOUGHT after sport.

They had been taunting him for days. Both and his jailors and he knew his time was just about up.

So they decided to do him one last favor...or was it one last cruel taunt.

"SO Centruion? Any last requests? Family you'd like to see? A message you'd like delivered?"

"No." Gerard's answer was curt and to the point. He was in no mood to play along with their taunts.

"Surely there must be SOMETHING you want.." the stout blond guardsmen teased.

"No...No nothing. I needed little in life. I need less in death."

"You KNOW the Emperor may STILL pardon you.."

"Only if I PLEASE his vulgar sensibilties. He will no doubt offer me some horror to perform to appease the bloodlust of the crowd and his own hideous desires. No...I would rather die with honour than 'entertain' that HARPIE."

All in earshot gasped. He had just sealed his own death.

"I heard you do not believe worship the Gods...there will be no reward in the next life for you...no Heaven as the jews call it, is this true?"

He shook his head, "I don't know what I believe anymore."

That made the guard grin. "Welll then just incase how about you get your taste of heaven now?"

A moment later the door to the small cell he'd been placed in opened.

"Have a bit of paradise Centurion...after all this is last night you lie...."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

woman you taunt US! Bring in the emperor!! i wanna see what he does!!!!!!!!!!!!

....!!!

Very very VERY good Lis. Can't wait for more, though I did tell you that it wouldn't be a one shot.

I meant it with love though, I can't do one either.

Oh, and the stout blonde guard better not be who I think he is. (lol)

Gerard turned to where the stout guard stood grinning. He pulled at something, pushing it towards the former Centurion. Gerard stared, his jaw wanting to drop. But he would not allow the guard, and those who were watching this little drama, that satisfaction.

There, thrust before him, was small female. The look in her eyes, showed no fear, infact she looked calm. As if she knew not the danger she was in.

He knew, even if she did not, that they should not dare provoke the brutes. They had every right to do with her, or indeed himself, as they pleased. 'No..' he thought. 'I will not give them their sport.' He thought with outrage and indignation. He realised he was shocked at the thought of her being treated so roughly.

Yet he also knew that if he did not respond in some fashion, her fate would be even worse. He Knew what her fate might be if she was returned to these arena guards. THEY were NOT Roman soliders, they were little better than barbarians.

"Consider this a gift Certurion...a last reward as it were. After all you may not get one in the next life."

Yet as he looked down at her she seemed to almost NOT be real. He had heard of shades, and spirits walking the earth. Heard stories and nymphs that the gods sought. She seemed so fragile, perhaphs that what she was.

She seemed to not be fearful. Was she Mad?

I vote yes...she is mad.

"We are all mad here, I am mad, you are mad" Said the Cheshier Cat to Alice.
"How do you know I am mad," said Alice.
"You must be, or else you wouldn't be here."

Alice in Wonderland has invaded your story! Run for it!!!

The guards seemed to be abit put off by her serenity as well. As she turned and smiled gently at them, they made the sign to ward off evil spirits. No one could be this calm facing the death she was.

She was one of the Heretics...SHE was a member of that strange new sect.
A Christian.

The guards left quickly glad that they were not trapped with that..'harpie' in disguise.
After all her kind it was said ate flesh and drank blood.

They were glad once again that they were NOT in the former centurions sandals.

She turned to face him. "I am intended for your sport Centurion. I will not fight you.. I know that you tried to stop the slaughter in the fire. I am grateful to you. And I am at peace with what lies ahead for me. I know what tomorrow brings...and I am Not afraid."

"You MUST be mad." he said out loud. "Do you know what they will force you to endure? Caesar himself will enjoy watching the spectacle. You are one of the.. strange.. ones are you not?"

She smiled at his attempt to warn her. "I know what the beast delights in..I know what has happened to my brothers and sisters. It is KIND of you to try to warn me..but it is NOT nessicary. I KNOW what lies for me afterward."

She walked to the smal window and watched the last rays of sun disappear, she shivered. "It is THIS night I am fearful about." she wrapped her arms around herself.

"Not of you...My being in here with you is a Blessing from The Father. No it is when they take me back...the guards they frighten me."

Gerard looked down at the fragile looking girl. She seemed...innocent. His instinct to protect someone, smaller and far more fragile than he, thundered in his heart.

He gently took her elbow and guided her to the farthest corner of the cell. "Come away from their hearing. They will relish hearing your fears." he lead her to the pallet of straw he'd been sleeping on. He felt her shiver, and he wrapped the rough-hewn raggedy blanket they'd left him around her shoulders.
"Tell me Little One, me of your life."


(finish tomorrow)

Wow...I really love this story.

I loved how the men feared the girl cause she 'ate flesh and drank blood'.

Just really great, can't wait for more.

aw i like this... so sweet! and HA 'strange' one is Christian... i REALLY like this!

(and yes, i know back then they were REALLY the strange ones, its not made up, but i like hearin it)