Chapter 401: Dramatic Shift in Power

Julius looked at his naked body in the mirror. Without his mask on, it was the first time he had seen his whole self. Reaching out and touching the mirror, his finger touched the reflection of his chest. He stroked the reflection of the large scar over his chest before looking up at his face. The burn scar that spread down to his neck was slowly healing, looking less disgusting each day. But it was still something he despised.

’Let it be a lesson. Learn from your mistakes.’It was the only thing he could tell himself to feel better. He tried to say he was still good-looking, he tried to ignore it, he cried about it and smashed things, but nothing helped other than using it as a lesson.

A knock on the door awoke Julius from his daze, and, picking up his silver mask, he allowed the people to enter. Two maids and a butler walked in, bowing toward Julius. On instinct, he spread his arms and legs and slowly allowed them to dress him. Layer by layer, he was dressed in fine garments, silk, the softest cotton, the finest animal furs. Julius only opened his eyes once he was completely dressed. Looking at himself, his face turned arrogant.

Coldly stepping out the door of his room, closed his eyes once more.’The banquet is in a few days. Today must work.’Julius stormed through the palace halls and let himself into the council room. The council members all stood up and bowed towards Julius. Octavius and Theodosius were noticeably missing.

"Let us begin." Julius sat in the seat at the head of the table, reserved for Theodosius. The blatant display surprised a few of the councillors, but they said nothing, already loyal to Julius rather than his father.

"Shall we not wait for Octavi...."

"No." Julius coldly said and looked at Bardas. Getting a nod from him, he was ready. "Octavius may have been a bad choice to replace Albus." Julius easily lied to his councillors. Despite the setbacks we have faced, it seems we forgot who my father is. I’m afraid he may have Octaivus wrapped around his finger all ready." It was an easy lie to pull off. They all knew Octavius was getting close to the Emperor, but simply didn’t know it was on Julius’ orders.

"This is... troublesome." One of the council members said softly, getting annoyed nods from the men around.

"Do not worry," Bardas spoke up and looked towards Julius. "The Prince and I have formulated a plan to arrest the Emperor. Releasing Cato was a desperate and pathetic move he made, but it gave us legitimacy to get rid of him." The council all smiled at another hearing the plan.

"Forgive me, gentleman, for not informing you beforehand, but we couldn’t risk a leak. I’m sure you understand." The men all nodded. Julius looked towards Bardas, his smile vanishing. "Do it." Like a dog waiting to be released, Bardas jumped out of his chair and bowed towards Julius.

"Your wish is my command." Lifting his head up, he looked at all the men around the table before walking off.

Julius looked up at the clock on the wall and watched the hands slowly tick. The council remained silent and worked on the documents they had laid before them, seeing that Julius didn’t wish to talk until he heard from Bardas again.

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Octavius made sure to have an extra number of guards with him today. Standing outside Theodosus’ room, he carefully knocked on the door and let himself in. Putting on a panicked face, he stared at the Emperor.

"Your Majesty. We must go. Now." Theodosius stared at Octavius for a second before scoffing and lowering his head. "This isn’t a joke. I wish it were Your Majesty. I have gotten word. Julius has ordered your arrest for freeing Cato."

Unlike before, Theodosius didn’t brush it off and looked down at Octavius with cold eyes, "This is true?"

"I heard there was a meeting of the council today, one we had not been invited to. Going over, I listened to the conversation and before it finished, ran straight here." Theodosius looked Octavius up and down, frowning.

"You’re not sweating or out of breath for someone who just ran." Octavius froze for a second but quickly smiled and shook his head.

"I’m a trained soldier. If running such a short distance tired me, I would be unworthy of my position." Shaking his head, Octavius stopped talking about unimportant things. "We must go Your...

"They are here." A soldier outside the room said with a stern voice, and Theodosius finally stood up, seeing the four soldiers outside draw their weapons. Walking to the door, he saw Bardas leading a group of lightly armoured men towards Theodosius’ room.

Theodosius frowned and looked at Octavius. The young general watched as Bardas and his men pulled their weapons. Pulling his own sword, his face turned cold, "YOU DARE PULL YOUR WEAPON ON HIS MAJESTY!" Screaming at Bardas, the man thinly smiled.

"He is under arrest by order of His Highness the Crown Prince. Please surrender yourself, Your Majesty."

Theodosius looked at Bardas and scoffed. "Insolent dog. Already found yourself a new owner." Looking at Octavius, he frowned, "It seems you were right, General."

"We must get you out of here, Your Majesty and get you south," Octavius said gravely. Theodoius thought about it for a second but nodded. He still had the major support of the southern lords.

Getting a small nod from the Emperor, Octavius, he sheathed his sword." HOLD THE LINE! BUY HIS MAJESTY TIME!" Barking the order, he turned to Theodosius and led the way. Heading towards a hidden passageway in the Palace, he pulled a painting to the side as the sound of fighting broke out behind them.

The clashing of steel and pained groans of men told them all they needed. "Letting the Emperor climb, Octavius looked behind him for a second and seeing no one had followed them, he closed the painting up and followed behind.

Watching the Emperor’s back, Octavius reached behind his back and grabbed a tool Bardas had given him. Long strands of horse hair were tightly woven together, connected to two handles, a Garrote Wire. Theodosisus walked forward casually and sighed.

"How did you know about the hidden passageways in the palace, Octavius?" The question was a surprise to Octavius, who froze. Theodosius stopped and turned around, his large, fat body blocking the path. "This is a secret only the Imperial family and Cato knew. So, how did you know? Because I never told you."

"I learnt when I ascended," Octavius said casually, making Theodosius chuckle.

"No. This is a secret we never tell the military. Less they get stupid ideas." Theodosius walked closer to Octavius. "How did you know?"

Octavius saw the cold, distrustful eyes looking at him and struck quickly. Throwing a jab at Theodosius, he could tell the plan had gone astray. Theodosius expected the attack but couldn’t move quickly enough, the punch hitting firmly into his nose. "Traitor." Only saying that the Emperor watched as Octavius moved again to throw a punch.

Using his weight, he charged at Octavius and pushed the man to the ground. He knew in normal circumstances he never stood a chance, but in the tight corridor, Octavius had unwittingly given him it.

Crashing to the floor, Theodosius dropped his weight onto the General and threw punch after punch at his face. Octavius blocked his face and watched through the gaps in his arms. His face was emotionless, the fight being nothing compared to a war zone. Each punch was heavy, and Octavius felt his arms getting numb, but waiting for a chance, he mustered all the strength he had in his legs and picked the far man off himself.

Theodosius tumbled back, and Octavius moved quickly. Reaching behind, he grabbed both handles of his weapon. Theodosisu threw another punch, but to Octavius, it was easy to see coming. He could tell the Emperor, although having been trained, hadn’t fought in years. Slipping the punch, he kicked Theodosius in the back of the leg and watched him fall to his knees.

Manoeuvring behind him, he wrapped the Garrote around Theodosius’ neck and started to strangle him. It was a makeshift one he had put together, but it had the intended effect. The horse hair held firm, and Theodsius couldn’t get his fingers underneath it. Octavius held firm, and the Emperor struggled to break free.

In a desperate move, Theodosisu threw himself back, slamming Octavius into the wall. The tightness around his neck loosened, and he managed to put his finger underneath. Before he could rip it off and break free, Octavius quickly tightened it again.

He was in a small daze from the heavy impact into the stone wall, but only remembering his order, he slowly choked Theodoius. He was repeatedly thrown into the wall as Theodoisus desperately tried to break free, but unlike the first surprise, it had a small effect.

The desperate struggle lasted a minute as Theodoisus slowed down, his vision going hazy. His limbs went limp, but Octavius didn’t take a risk and held tight for an extra few seconds. Seeing him not fight back, he dropped the Emperor’s body and slid down the wall, placing two fingers on his neck.

There was still a heartbeat, making him sigh in relief. Opening the painting, he saw his men standing there, covered in blood. "Help me move him." He could have easily killed the Emperor and been done with it, but Julius didn’t want that. He wanted Theodoisus to suffer and had prepared a place to put him.

The soldier didn’t question it. Quickly tying the man up, they gagged him and dragged him through the dark tunnel.

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A splash of cold water awoke Theodosius from his sleep. Looking up, he saw a figure hidden in the dark dropping a bucket by his side. Theodosisus tried to move but was stopped by heavy chains around his body. It was only then that he felt the cold steel on his body and realised he had been stripped.

Julius walked out of the dark just before Theodosius and crouched before his father. Grabbing the man’s hair, he forced him to look into his eyes. Reaching up, he pulled his mask off and sinisterly smiled. "I told you. You would pay for what you did to me. How was your moment of hope?"

"You fucking brat." Theodoisus snarled and tried to break free to no avail. His pitiful struggle made Julius chuckle.

"I could have killed you numerous times. After the cathedral, after you freed Cato, in the tunnel. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted you to be reduced to nothing. Look around, Father, this will be your new home. You will sit in your shit, eat the slop the pigs won’t eat, be alone until you slowly go mad." Julius said, gleefully watching his father squirm. Putting the mask back on, he stood up, cleared his throat, and fixed his appearance. "If you would excuse me. I must declare myself regent." Julius walked into the darkness again.

"Julius...." Theodosius called out with a cold but desperate voice, "Son. You need me." The door opened, and Theodosisus’ heart raced. Looking around, he breathed rapidly, "Julius. JULIUS!" With a desperate cry, the iron door closed on him, plunging him into complete darkness.