The House of Promise: With Astrological Signs

By Valinda Vassy

Crime, intrigue and passion in Julius Caesers Rome.

The House of Promise is a fast-paced historical novel that chronicles the rise and fall of a Roman noble family. The protagonist, Quintus, son of the Roman Senator Arsin Daimon, is a boxer who rose from the House of Promise to thrill Roman crowds to become a preeminent fighter. His mentor and later lover Marcia Paraphilitis, sent him from Alexandria to Rome at age 15 to train. He gained fame as the Golden Boxer of Rome who was resolved to avenge the murder of his father. The book is rich in historical detail that gives of sense of the magnificence of Rome in the heyday of empire. Marcia is painted in vibrant colors as a woman who understands the world of powerful men and weaves a rich tapestry serving her own ends. This is a timeless story of love and power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 21, 2006
• ISBN: 9781491842546

Valinda Vassy

When I lived in Washington, D.C I became a newspaper correspondent for the L.A Times, Manhattan Beach Tide News Paper, and commented on the newsand the Cats and Deacons Cat Fancies. My cat made the cover of the local cat magazines. Before turning into a writer I attended the University of Southern California, studying Foreign Literature. I was especially interested in Johann Von Goethe, German writer of “Prominence” and his friend the poet Schieller. I used some of their written philosophy in my writing. Goethe once said, “Out of evil, comes good.” the House of Promise   Valinda Vassy

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Street Of Canopus

It had been a cold, bitter day on the street of Canopus in Alexandria, when he had wandered into the fish market. The great Street of Canopus, 100 feet wide, and three miles long, was the main thoroughfare of Alexandria, and just off the street could be found thousands of shops, stores and similar business places. An old woman named Fedora, who worked for Marcia, gave him a job. It was very cold and there was no heat in the shop. She had told him to sort the fish; the fresh, and throw out the old.

The fish shop of Marcia, from the House of Para, was wedged in between two other shops just like it. In front of the shop fragrant melons, red grapes and pomegranates spilled over heavily ladened carts, and to the side was the meat shop, with freshly killed geese and whole pigs strung up. Live chickens were in crates and cackling at the barking dogs, hanging around for the owner to cast the pigs’ entrails for them to eat, and a dish of blood. The dogs helped guard the shop.

Quintus was hungry. He had been hungry for days. The House of Promise was now destitute, after it had been sacked by a Roman Faction. And their supplies were all gone, as the slaves had pilfered their storage, taking huge jars of honey, rolls of clothbound cheeses, jars of olive oil, wine and sacks of corn. Now the horses had grown thin, just setting them out to graze on very dry vegetation. Their wild animals, which were used to prod the slaves, had died from starvation.

Quintus had been too proud to ask for assistance from another proud house as he wandered into the fish shop. His father had been killed, his two brothers and his sister. Soon he and his mother, the only ones left, would become beggars of the road, as the House of Promise was slowly deteriorating into debris. Huge cracks had appeared in the central floor of the marble baths, and paint had chipped, where once the house had gleamed in splendor.

The air had a foulness to it in the city. The shops had windows and brightly colored doors on huge brass or copper hinges. There usually was a rear room for cooking over a brazier, and a couch for a cat-nap. In the next quarter was the storage. There were no windows in there, and inside it was pitch black.

He liked to poke his head out the colorful door and listen to the noises of the traffic on the street of Canopus. There were peasants with their camels, and shepherds with their goats and farmers with their chickens. Strong odors of putrefaction came unbidden to his nostrils, until he hastily would turn away. Better to smell the stinking, rotting fish, at least until the shepherd had moved his goats along the way a bit.

He had a desperate feeling in his chest to leave the sordidness of cleaning fish. He had a longing to soar with the great birds over Egypt. He wanted to be somebody, to always have food, women and wine at his elbow. He cursed the dry bread and old cheese he had been given to eat by the old woman Fedora. All the while he conjured in his mind’s eye roasted lamb with succulent sauces and choice fruits. The saliva formed at the corners of his mouth as he pictured his stomach full and bloated from over-eating all the delicious foods he could think of, that would give him the gratification of a full stomach, he so greatly desired.

He had worked several days, cleaning the shop and stacking fish, and the old woman had given him a few sesterces to get by on. When one morning he had jumped up and down to keep warm, he saw a richly garbed woman open the door of the shop. There stood Marcia Paraphilitis from Para, the house of wealth.

Hello, I’m Marcia! How are you? she said lighting a small burner and brewing something hot to drink. She offered him a hunk of cheese and some fresh bread. Quintus hadn’t had any in a long time. He was so hungry. Marcia noticed what a handsome youth he was, tall, agile with an abundance of bronze curls.

He was clad in a short, white tunica, which is like a present day shirt, and on his strong legs were leather sandals. His skin was fair as he was a Roman, and not clay colored like the Egyptians, with exception of those with Greek blood in their veins. At fifteen, he was well developed, with strong, broad shoulders and was at height six foot three. His eyes were deep set and a dark brown, beneath ample brows. His nose was prominent and flared proudly at the nostrils. But his mouth was wide and generous with well developed lips, passionate and friendly, and flexibly so, that easily his lips broke into a sensual grin. His strong teeth were even and white.

My, she said to herself. Fedora had told her that she had hired him, but she had never said anything about his athletic appearance.

Fedora is ill, so I’m taking her place for the day, she said to Quintus.

Yes, your ladyship.

The warm brown eyes of Quintus were like a caress to Marcia, as he spoke, for a brilliant light, seemed to shine forth; for he had a curious mind. But, he did not know his own strength, nor had he any convictions about his life and his own worth to it. Rather, he had all of the elements for masculine beauty, and the great strength of giants, all untapped, and summed up he was as pristine in his masculine adornment as a babe.

He lifted a heavy crate of freshly cleaned fish, and as the floor was wet, he slipped, and while the fish spilled all over the floor of the shop, he landed squarely in Marcia’s ample lap. She was sitting by a small table drinking her hot drink.

I’m sorry, he said… I’m…

Never mind, Marcia replied those fish are slippery."

Marcia desperately desired him. She put her arms around him, and he felt the nearness of her womanly body, and the heady perfume she wore was very suggestive. It stirred his passions, so that instead of standing up, he remained where he was. Even then, the outline of his male organs could be seen under his tunica.

With her arms around him, Marcia rested her head on a bare spot on his chest, her fingers gently caressed him. The effect was instantaneous in stirring the deep fires of his youth. Suddenly, he had a yearning for her.

It was then that he promised to meet her at his house, as his mother would be away for the evening, and the handful of new servants who served out of loyalty, would retire early. The crops had been bad and there was no food in the house. It was so vital to Quintus to have food in the house.

His mother had said, "son, I have a lot of trust and faith in you.

Son, be sure everything given to you in that shop is given by the woman. Don’t ever take anything by yourself.

I won’t. He said.

But the first day a talent was lying on the floor, and he found it and gave it to Fedora.

He told his mother about the money.

Son, you were being tested. She said.

When Marcie extended her relationship to him, he wondered if he were being tested, again.

Now that he was working at the fish shop he had food for their table. A little rice for themselves and the servants’, meals which his mother made with love; and because of her love, their plain meals had become a banquet.

Quintus was waiting for Marcia at the House of Promise. As he had said, his mother was away visiting for the evening.

Marcia looked to him to be about thirty or thirty-five. Her age didn’t matter. To him she was a person. He had changed to a clean toga.

Did you change your clothes? she asked.

Yes, he said, the main thing is to keep clean.

Yes, she said, and to herself, I’m acting like a wavering reed.

What is there about this Roman youth that causes my stagnent blood to flow once again with the fierceness of my youth?

I have not yet seen his manhood in the Arena, while the populace grow green with envy, should be acknowledge me publicly. But, he must be the answer to my Lament.

For only that morning she had lamented for a new lover.

And as for Quintus, he wanted this woman, no matter what her age.

It is said that the House of Para has Egyptian gold filigree embellishments, besides marble seats and it is beautiful. Plase excuse my humble abode. He said.

Marcie did not look at the furnishings, but at the beautiful baths, which were of various colors of marble, red earth, coal grey and veined orange.

What a contrast, however, to the beautiful House of Para’s baths, which were of black marble, the finest import obtainable from Africa!

Marcie thought, I’ve been here before, when his father, Arsin Daimon ruled. The house had reflected splendor. To all of her reflections, she said nothing of this to Quintus.

Quintus said, At my age, I am very passionate.

Marcia, the thirty-eight year old wife of Demetrius said, I am also a passionate woman. But, my husband cannot see me, for all he sees is money. She did not add, and the new handmaiden, Cynara, his latest passion, whom h e has brought with him from Spain.

In the baths, at once they removed their clothing, and fell into each others arms. They splashed water on each other for a period of time. With an emolient, Marcia began caressing Quintus’ body, going over each muscle.

You should be an athlete, she said.

She took a fresh supply of oil in her hands and rubbed his thighs, and bent over and killed him there, whereupon he had a hunger for her.

He took a towel and dried her firm body. They went into the bed chamber where there was a huge powder jar. He fluffed powder all over her soft skin and bent her to him and kissed her, his body still damp from their bath.

Quintus had a great need of her, and he felt her nipples, which were hard as ivory, as he thrust into her, and she screamed in delight! It shook him up so that he almost went numb, but he quickly regained his composure and his passion resumed.

Afterwards, Marcia handed her lover his toga to cover his nude Olympian body. Even then, the outline of his powerful body as revealed. Marcia desperatele desired him again.

Quintus put his arms around her.

How do you feel? he asked.

Like a nymph, she said, smiling at him.

You make love like a cherub! he said.

Keep our affair secret, Quintus said to Marcia. Don’t tell anyone. He knew women were wont to babble.

Their affair went on, and Quintus became manager of the shop, and it was money from the great House of Para, that Marcia had given him that sent him to Rome to complete his education and train as an athlete.

But Quintus had another reason for wanting to go to Rome. He would bring a new family from Rome with him for the House of Promise. He would begin again, to build beauty and strength. He would become a great athlete, as his father would have wanted him to be, and serve The House of Promise.

Marcia’s husband, the banker, knew that a strange restlessness had come upon Marcia, his third wife, lately. She told him that many nascent mystic fluids of springtime, which causes all vegetation to revive and flourish with flowers and beauty had in some mysterious way that Spring, entered into her own blood stream.

I’m being born again, she said to her husband. "I have new blood in my veins!

Demetrius, would you be jealous if I fell in love? If I acquired a lover?

To all this Demetrius said nothing. He loved his wife Marcia, and he would go on loving her. He didn’t intend to change that.

He had brought blond Cynara with him from his recent trip to Spain, and he was satisfied with her love making, which he thought his wife did not know about. He was watching Marcia standing before her mirror early in the morning chanting her Lament.

I am little better than one dead! she had said, as she combed out her auburn tresses. I have nothing now to look forward to but a loveless husband and my tomb; with my mirrors and necklaces, without a lover.

He went up to her and put his arms around her.

Marcia, you are my wife. We love each other. That is all there is to it.

But the mystic fluids in my blood stream have caused me to yearn. She said. "I dwell on my past life. There was one lover I can’t forget. He was like an Adonis and he would love me like a passionate servant. I would say to him:

"Love me eternally, but he not afflicted if I deceive thee a dozen times a day…

Can it be that all is ended? I have not lived long. I was born only yesterday!

Marcia! Enough of that! snapped Demetrius.

But Marcia, not to be out done, said she would appeal to the Moon Goddess, Hectate, so that she might be with child.

Oh! Demetrius, if we could have a child! She said. No woman was thought to be any good once she ceased childbearing, and Marcia had never borne a child.

That was when Demetrius had promised her a new handmaiden. He had brought Cynara back with him for Marcia, from his trip.

Marcia believed Cynara would make her fertile through beauty, so she could conceive a child.

Paint my nails with carmine dye, she said to Cynara. Curve my brows to make my eyes large and appealing. Arrange my gown with braided rope so my breasts will be two lotus buds.

"My lips will remain full like those of the courtesans.

"Pinch my cheeks until they bloom like the roses at the Rose Festival.

"Put the silver bracelets on my arms to use for weapons, should I have too many lovers, who will fight over me.

"Lately, I have not had to use them.

"Give me my bronze girdle, so that I may go to the village to the craftsman to have him make me a new one. Then Cynara, you will embroider the words, love me, but do not despair if I give myself to another.

It wasn’t long afterwards, that Marcia met Quintus.

Demetrius hoped that Marcia would get over her lament. A new lover? Could she get one at thirty-eight? Possibly. But, a youth? He felt very satisfied with Cynara, and paid Marcia scant attention as he opened the door of The House of Para to the early morning light.

Genealogy

The House of PARAphilitis in Alexandria

House colors: Emerald & Gold

MARCIA PARAPHILITIS, a Taurus born, woman administrator for the banking house of PARA. She was descended from the ancient King of Naramsin from Assyria. She is well groomed with two slaves, Cynara and Dorcia for cosmetology. She is vain. Hennas her hair. She has a knowledge of economics, but is of a suspicious nature. She has never had a child. She is the wife of Demetrius, and the stepmother of her husband’s children, Valoxia and Tiberius. She displays favoritism and is aloof and proud. But, she is a passionate woman, and one with aspirations.

DEMETRIUS PARAPHILITIS, a Sagittarius born is Marcia’s husband and the banker of the banking House of PARA. He has black curls and a heavy body in appearance, but he is quick witted. He is also, conservative. He is resourceful in managing property and money.

His first wife was Cornelia, who died.

His second wife was Ophalia, who died.

Valoxia, his daughter, is born of Cornelia.

Ophalia, the second wife bore him a son, Tiberus. And she bore a daughter, Aphinoe, who later died.

VALOXIA PARAPHILITIS, a Virgo born is the eldest child of Demetrius. Marcia is her stepmother. Valoxia is slim and plain with red hair. She is very determined, yet practical. She is a student of several languages. She uses tack and is an intelligent young woman.

TIBERIUS CAIUS PARAPHILITIS, a Leo born is the rebel son of the House of PARA. He is sly. He is shrewd and selfish. He does nothing constructive. He has black hair and is foxy in appearance. Someone had told him earlier that he was the off-spring of a maligned mythological character, told by the Ignorant One in the village. He had become throughly frightened and to cover this distortion of his character, he had become a rebel. He has been in many scrapes that cost much money to the House of Para. They regarded Tiberius, as the black sheep of the family. He resents favoritism and runs away from PARA.

CYNARA, a Scorpio born is the supreme handmaiden, physician, cosmotologist to wealthy Marcia of PARA. Cynara is a lover of luxuries and sweets. She purchases herbs and salts from merchants who come from afar.

She has knowledge of medicine, taught to her by a wandering physician of Rome. She is well educated. She has infectious laughter. She is at once, wide-eyed and radiant. Her eyes are of sapphire and her hair blonde. She trembles, breaths fast and swoons. Affectation, is the word she lives by. She affects tenderness, love, or anything to gain her point. But, she is a good mixer and she is entertaining. With her mercurial temperament she can sway others. She can show fortitude of character under a crisis.

MANNUS, a Leo born, and the EUNUCH to Demetrius is an Ethiopian. He is superstitious. He is a boxer and a swordsman. He is the right hand man of the banker. He is proud of his elegant figure. He feels that people get lazy after they are along in years. They have their love affairs and eat. They let their slaves do the work. He is very vain. He has a legal mind.

DORCIA, a Cancer born, plays the lute. She is the handmaiden to Marcia and takes care of her clothing. She also attends to the needs of Valoxia.

Demetrius, the banker of the House of PARA, looked out at the harbor, protected by the island of Antirrhodus, that was quite a shipping center. And near the water front was the bar, The Oasis, where he knew a Greek, who owned a corner lot on which there were three houses. Demetrius desired these houses. He had a desire to own everything.

Each morning Demetrius came out to look at the sea and the sky…a blend of one. Astrologically, he was a Taurean. He was the father of Valoxia, and the head of his Alexandrian banking concern.

The door opened in the rival house, and Dominus, the head of The House of Kophilitas, a Sagittarian, and Valeria’s husband, appeared. His was the house of jewelry and precious stones. The two rivals saluted each other. They concealed their more serious intentions and made light of more casual things.

It was in his casual talk that Demetrius mentioned the luscious new handmaiden Cynara whom he had recently brought with him from Spain. His wife Marcia desired this new handmaiden for her own selfish reasons. Now, something new had been added to his household, and that increased his value in the eyes of his neighbor. Cynara had been newly purchased for 30,000 sesterces.

Dominus, the head of the House of KO shrugged his shoulders and drew his toga close. He had only recently acquired a new eunuch; a pure black African Nubian slave, who would ride his horses and undoubtedly win great honors for the House of KO.

Besides, Setia, the love child, lived in his household.

Dominus held a vital interest in horse racing. The Colors of his House and clan were emerald green. The jockeys, stable boys, the prancing horses, chariots, and all the equipment used were distinguished by green as the predominating color. His horses had come from Italy, Greece, and particularly Spain, where there were great stud farms dedicated to the raising of mares and stallions for the annual races. Each animal had its pedigree, it’s famous victories, and it’s name might be known all over the kingdom.

The head of the House of PARA shrugged his shoulders in return and drew his toga about him, as if to say, eunuchs were plentiful. After all, didn’t he have his own eunuch? Mannus. Juicy, ripe handmaidens were not so easy to find. Gleefully, and impudently, he licked his lips and went indoors. The head of The House of KO arrogently withdrew, shaking his black head of hair.

Demetrius’ first wife, had been Cornelia, who lived only three years after his daughter, Valoxia, was born. She was taken ill suddenly one Spring morning with violent cramps and passed away before anyone realized that she was fatally ill. Demetrius was shocked and provided a magnificent funeral, as he had loved her deeply.

Tiberius, Cornelia’s first child, born a year after her marriage to Demetrius, was her pride and joy. She had lavished upon him all the affection that her great heart could give, and he responded in kind.

Valoxia, a Virgo born a year later, was loved, but her character differed from that of her brother. She became the more brilliant student of the two, but she lacked the gift of the heart which characterized Tiberius, a Leo.

Demetrius’ second marriage was to Ophalia. While Ophalia was loyal and devoted to her husband, she had not truly loved him. She welcomed the position in life and society conferred upon her by her husband, but she was not a success as a hostess. She was respected by her social friends but was not loved by them. She had been an heiress and had brought Demetrius a substantial dowry…the reason he married her.

Ophalia had a child called Aphinoe, who died. So, now all that remained were Valoxia and Tiberius, children of Cornelia. But strangely enough, Ophalia had been secretly adored by her slave girl, Ota. She had acted as her personal maid, spy and general factotum, and had been devoted to her, and her interests, until she died, also.

Demetrius married Marcia, his third wife, for her money. She did not have any children, and when the care of the children was thrust upon her, she did not care for the task. Formerly, she had worked in her own business, just off the great Street of Canopus, which was the main thoroughfare of Alexandria. She kept the business, and was aided by the services of an aunt of hers, Fedora, an old woman whom she had taken to live with her some years before. The aunt was a childless widow of a soldier who had been killed in battle. Fedora was penniless and had appealed to her niece Marcia for help in her extremity.

She was an excellent manager. of Marcia’s fish shop, and also a good housekeeper, skilled in weaving and the treatment of flax. Marcia was glad to have Fedora take care of the business, also the help provided by her, and as years went by the two got along well together and were good friends.

Fedora was delighted to have the responsibility of looking after the motherless children of Cornelia, and Marcia was glat, at those times, to take care of the shop.

Marcia had sent Quintus, the young man of fifteen to train in Rome. It was in 46 B.C. It was two years before Caesar’s death. He had sent his mother Phoebe money for the household. Quintus glanced over the city while he listened to what his mother was telling him. He recalled it had been three years after Caesar’s death, that he had returned to Alexandria.

A stranger, called ‘the lost one,’ will arrive from afar. He will be from the House of KO. He will be a friend of Marc Antony.’

Many had visited the House of Promise for Phoebe’s mystical incantations for the productivity of their crops, or the healing of a person, or for glory in the Arena. Often-times, the subject visiting would come out smelling of lotus blossoms.

Quintus was looking forward to seeing Marcia. When she wanted something she was blunt about it. She was never mystical about her wants. He hardly heard what his mother was saying, so absorbed was he by the thought of seeing Marcia, again.

Chapter 2

The Boxing Match

In Alexandria, there is great excitement over the boxing match in the Gymnasium this afternoon! Hassuf the usher exclaimed.

The House of GAMULA carrying the turquoise colors are backing a certain Roman youth called Quintus just arrived from Rome!

Marcia was looking that Spring for a romantic contact and her handmaiden had a roving eye for a handsome male figure, especially those who were lavishly garbed.

That afternoon, Marcia and her new handmaiden Cressa called for their litter to take them to the Gymnasium.

Quintus would be boxing, she knew that!

The entrance to the Gymnasium was lined with stalls from which various items