Fabia, Vestal Virgin

By Juan Carlos Morales

In 73 BC, the decision to start a relationship leads Fabia, the most beautiful and sweetest of the Vestal Virgins, to a high risk. She is accused of having broken her vows of chastity and if she is found guilty, the sentence will be a cruel death, being buried alive.
No matter what would be the truth or the outcome of the trial, in the circular temple, the sacred fire of Vesta will continue burning with its eternal flame.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Juan Carlos Morales
• Release date: Oct 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301856213

Juan Carlos Morales

Being an avid reader, Juan Carlos Morales has decided to venture as a writer, showing a new facet in his life. Author of the historical novels: "The macahuitl and sword", "Gratidia" and "Fabia". He has more than 30 years of professional experience in Information Technology as IT Manager and other international positions, working in Banking Institutions, in the Oil Industry, Retail, and in the Health Industry. Professor at Universidad Francisco Marroquin, ISACA Geographical Award winner (Central and South America), CISA and CRISC highest score. Juan Carlos has a Systems Engineer degree ,Magister Artium, CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT ISACA certifications, ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Lead Auditor, ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Lead Implementer, and LEAN IT Association Certification.

Book preview

Fabia

Vestal Virgen

Author: Juan Carlos Morales

Front cover photography: Sarahi Tan

Cover model: Andrea Pazzetti

Copyright 2012 Juan Carlos Morales

Smashwords Edition

ISBN 9781301856213

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to my wife Diara and to my children Gabriel and Isabel for understanding my passion for reading and supporting me in this new phase of my life as a writer. I must mention my mother, worthy of sharing with me every new achievement as the result of the principles and values she instilled on me.

It is important to recognize and appreciate the valuable collaboration of my son Gabriel, who performed the proof reading and enhanced the translation from Spanish to English.

I want to express my gratitude to Robert Hammerton, who had the patience to read thoroughly and correct the manuscript of this novel.

Thanks also to all the people who in one way or another have contributed to the realization of this project, and especially you readers for whom I write.

~~~~

In memory of Fabia

~~~~

Contenido

TEMERITATE

ACCUSATIO

IUDICIUM

VERITATEM

EPILOGUE

~~~~

Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus and Gaius Cassius Longinus consular year

681 Ab Urbe Condita

Temeritate

Everything began to flourish in the month dedicated to the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. On the Nones of April, it was full moon.

It is essential that no one recognizes me, the beautiful young woman confided to her friend, while she was covering her head and her face with the palla, using it as a hood. She had nice honey-colored eyes, veiled by long dark lashes. She was in the prime of her youth; her skin was as fresh as an orchid; her eyebrows were thin and brown. She was tanned by the sun and had a fine complexion.

You cannot go out alone at night! Arruntia lashed, with the aim to protect her friend. She had great affection for her. They were in a modest furnished room with a triclinium, used as a bed, a stool and a wooden table.

Do not worry about me, I will only go to the Juturna fountain, said the girl, reassuringly. She was slender, but always dressed in a discreet manner, with elegance and dignity.

You mean the place where we have the water supply needed to wash away the blood from the sacrifices? asked Arruntia, in a way to ease her anxiety; she knew the place well. She was slim and had a long blond hair.

Yes, it's not far away from here, just between the Temple of Castor and Pollux and the Temple of Vesta.

Why are you going? questioned her faithful friend, who was characterized by her prudence.

He asked me to see him there, and I was not able to refuse his invitation, the young lady argued. Her soft cheeks blushed, because she was conscious about how weak she was to resist the persuasive power of that man.

You have seen him in religious ceremonies, attending to chariot races and at the banquets of the aristocracy, which is fair. Why see him now in that place? asked she to her friend, with a reproachful look in her deep blue eyes.

It's hard to explain, she answered, not able to say what the reason was.

If you go, then be careful! said she, knowing beforehand that she would not be able to convince her friend to desist. With her thin lips pursed, she retired to her own room that was right next door.

The young lady suffocated the flame of the oil lamp, leaving her room barely lit by a burning ember. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she walked down the hallway leading to the laundry room, the storage space and the maid's quarters. She did not find servants in her way, so she crossed it, apparently unseen. She reached the backyard and stopped for a moment, staring at the full moon reflected in the water barrel. That was the place where the slaves bathed themselves with a pail of water, standing in front of the barrel, rubbing their skin with the strigil. She dragged her fingertips across the surface of water, feeling cold despite her long dress. With her delicate hands, she fixed her palla so it hid her facial expressions even better than before, and slipped out through the back door, used by the servants.

Since her childhood she had been very brave. She walked until she reached the water spring. The Cecilia Metella family built the fountain out of stone to collect the natural water gushing from the rocks.

When she arrived, the place was so desolate and quiet that she could hear the murmur of the rising water. She remained motionless, standing, watching the magnificent marble statues that were on the base in the center of the source. In spring, she had come many times to fill her jar with water, but never had so much time available to see the statues representing the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux.

She walked slowly toward a shrine erected nearby the fountain and entered to the altar. The young lady read the inscription dedicated to Juturna, the nymph of the water, and. She walked out of the shrine and observed the room structure built for the pilgrims, who came to the source from afar. Suddenly, she heard the sound of someone approaching and decided to go back to the fountain.

Hail, Catiline, she greeted with a beaming smile, showing the whiteness of her teeth. The folds of her long tunic seemed to conceal the purity of a goddess. While she was speaking, he stared at the magnificent shape of her lips.

Your beauty is truly exquisite. I had never seen a woman so lovely, said the senator. It was a fact that he had always behaved in front of her as a man of good manners. That was expected, because he belonged to one of the oldest aristocratic families of Rome.

Without saying a word, he rushed to hold her tightly by her waist. She looked stunned at him, her eyes wide open. This could not be happening.

She tried to scream, but her cry was drowned before the sound could escape from her throat. Catiline covered her mouth with one hand while the other grabbed her around her waist. She was trapped! He was not a fine senator, but a rough man, tall and strong, hardened by the military service. She was unable to stop him

He withdrew his hand that was covering her mouth and put his mouth to hers. She felt helpless, under the pressure of his lips on hers and the strong arms that held her by the waist. At first, he kissed her gently on the cheeks, neck and lips. She shuddered and closed her eyes. When he felt the sweetness of her mouth, Catiline went wild, kissing her fiercely.

He began to caress her, and she experienced a heady mixture of fear and desire that made her to tremble, and forget momentarily who she was, abandoning herself. At last, her conscience responded, making her overcome that strange feeling of weakness and confusion. Frantically, she managed to loosen from the arms of Catiline, and get away from him. Her legs were shaking and she was breathing heavily. With effort, she managed to break the heavy silence and articulate two words firmly:

Never again!

She was too dizzy to realize what was happening around her. Someone hidden was watching the scene!

Upon returning to the domus, the young lady hurried in search of her friend. She needed to talk to her about what had happened. She found her awake, reading in her room.

By Venus! What happened? Arruntia exclaimed, leaving aside the papyrus, and rising to meet her friend in the room’s doorway.

Arruntia! said the young lady, sobbing, as she walked towards her friend to receive the hug she needed.

Calm down, everything will be fine! she sheltered her in her arms. Her white hands with long and thin fingers comforted her