Page 5 of Vesuvius

Then the bronze bowl crashed against the side of Felix’s head.

Chapter II

LOREN

Loren’s life was easier before he started dreaming of the copper-haired ghost.

Months of jolting from sleep in a cold sweat, the ghost’s name lingering on the tip of his tongue, out of reach, and now he was here to haunt Loren in person.

Except ghosts surely didn’t crumple after being struck with an altar bowl.

This was a boy, flesh and blood, and Loren had killed him. Just like that.

By pure luck, Loren reacted in time to catch him before he hit the floor. They sank to the ground together, the boy’s curls splayed over his lap.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Loren said. ‘So,sosorry.’

He didn’t stir.

In all fairness, the subject of Loren’s worst nightmares showing up blood-splattered and wild-eyed at his job was more than a little unsettling. Especially after the night he’d had, tossing and turning and shouting awake, then the quake . . . But dear Isis, he hadn’t meant to commit murder. Fear and guilt swirled in his stomach. Clumsy fingers searched for a pulse, but his hands shook so badly he doubted he’d found the right point.

Raised voices and pounding feet at the temple’s entrance knocked Loren from his reverie.

‘This is sacred ground,’ barked Camilia, another temple attendant. ‘Sheathe your sword.’

She tried to block a man in leather armour from charging into the courtyard. Loren had to give her credit. Short but fierce, Camilia threw orders like a legionnaire captain, all while dressed in a sleeping tunic, cropped hair tangled as a bird’s nest. Privately, Loren marvelled at the speed with which she’d got here following the quake. Camilia lived across town, but nothing, not even distance, could stand between her and the temple during a crisis.

‘You harbour a criminal,’ the guard said. ‘By order of my master—’

‘I don’t care if your master is Emperor Titus himself. You will not come in here. We have no criminals.’

Camilia didn’t know, Loren realised. She hadn’t seen him yet. Hooking his arms around the body, Loren attempted to edge them both behind the altar. The boy’s head lolled sickeningly. Camilia’s back faced them, but the guard spotted the movement. He gestured with his gladius.

‘Explain that.’

Camilia turned.

Sometimes Loren wished his mystical gift was less prophetic in nature and more like the thought-sharing sort he read about in stories. At least that would be useful, something he could control. Particularly in times like these, when Camilia glared him down, eyes unreadable. Loren had found himself the recipient of this look far too often lately.

I’ll tell you everything. Every detail.Loren thought it as hard as he could at her.Just get rid of him.

Camilia’s jaw clenched.

‘Goddess Isis is a friend to the downtrodden,’ she said at last. ‘We provide sanctuary to all.’

The guard sneered. ‘The thief didn’t come here for sanctuary.’

‘Thief or not, you can’t touch him under our protection. Surely your master is familiar with Roman law?’

Loren’s heart raced. Camilia’s boldness toed a line. Temple grounds or not, women didn’t have the option of being bold when it came to dealings with sword-wielding men.

The guard’s eyes slid past Loren and lingered on the collapsed body. After an excruciating pause, he sheathed his sword.

‘I will report what transpired here.’ He nodded, reeking of condescension, before striding from the temple.

Camilia stayed stiff until the door stopped swinging, then exhaled. ‘That should keep him from our door for now.’

‘For now,’ Loren echoed dully.

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