Page 70 of Vesuvius

Felix ate the bread as he walked. Drunk and cheery folks lingered on every corner, dancing, sharing wine, kissing. A buzz spread through Pompeii, twilight air punctuated with chatter. They were happy, and their obliviousness disturbed him. Change hung heavy in the atmosphere, bubbled in the city’s core, a grim haze hovering low, and Felix might not believe in omens, but he trusted his gut.

All his instincts screamedrun. While he still could.

The brothel loomed ahead, orange lights beckoning. Felix’s skin tingled as he stepped through the door. Musky air greeted him, cut through with the sharp scent of—

‘Fox!’ Elias perked up from where he reclined on the stairs, a fat blunt of herbs pinched between two fingers. ‘Interesting, I was wondering when you’d return to our humble home.’

‘That smells horrible,’ Felix said. ‘What is it, roadside dandelions?’

Elias tilted back and laughed, eyes rimmed red. ‘A new strain of hemp, sweet thing, for refined tastes. Breathe it in for a moment, and tell me it isn’t intoxicating.’

Felix crinkled his nose but stepped closer, despite his better judgement. ‘Where’s everyone else?’

‘The women? Out with the others. Celebrating. Like any good Roman.’ He squinted at Felix through the low-lit smoky filter. ‘Y’know, I’m surprised to see you here alone. Festival not enticing enough?’

‘I was hoping’ – Felix winced – ‘that you’d seen Loren.’

‘Who? You’ll have to describe him, Fox. You see, I’ve passed the point of remembering, well . . . anything.’

He was taking the piss. ‘I’ll check myself.’

Elias sprawled on the stairs, blocking Felix’s path. ‘He isn’t there. I would’ve seen him come home.’

‘How long have you been sitting here?’

‘Hours and hours. Sit with me, why don’t you? Maybe we can solve this puzzle together, work through all the places he might be. Promise I’ll make it worth your while.’

Felix hesitated, but Elias shot him a wild little grin and slid to make room. Gingerly, Felix sat, but kept his feet planted on the ground, ready to flee at a moment’s notice. Elias offered the blunt, shrugging when Felix shook his head.

‘Tell me where you’ve looked already.’

‘Well.’ He picked at the worn leather edge of Loren’s sandal. ‘The docks. The tavern. The weaver’s shop. Here.’

‘If your method is to search all the places Loren wouldn’t be first, you have an awfully long night ahead of you. Can I pose something?’

‘No.’

‘Part of you is afraid to find him,’ Elias said anyway. When Felix bit his tongue, Elias barked a laugh. ‘I’m right, aren’t I?’

The tops of Felix’s ears burned. He hoped against hope Elias was too blissed to notice. ‘Shouldn’t you be out seducing someone?’

‘It’s my night off. Well, from that part of my job. Now you’ve stumbled onto the other half of my profession: doling out relationship advice and soothing broken hearts.’

Groaning, Felix dropped the sandal to bury his face in his hands. ‘I’m trying to return his shoe. That’s it. After, I’m leaving. For good.’

Elias blinked, thoroughly unimpressed. ‘You’re pathetic. And oblivious.’

‘Piss off.’

‘You want my advice,’ he drawled, and Felix was certain he didn’t, but he continued, ‘stop looking where you know he isn’t, and go where you know he is.’

‘If I knew that, I wouldn’t be here,’ Felix said.

Elias smirked and leaned heavily against the step. In the flickering sconce light, he was smudgy and lean, like a hastily drawn figure study, ink bleeding around the edges. Imperfectly crafted in a careful way. Lazily beautiful. In another town – and pliant with enough drink to dull the discomfort of touch – Felix would have pulled him into a dark corner by now. Impermanent intimacy, a distraction.

A hand on Felix’s shoulder pushed him back from where he’d been leaning forward.

‘It would be a yes to you,’ Elias said, ‘if I thought I was what you wanted.’

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