Modern Men: Dayton, Son of Hannibal ( Chapter Three) , a short story by McKenzie. Date added: 2012-07-16. Times viewed: 289.
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- Intro: Rome the Lightening
Rome the Lightening was Emperor Andrew's second daughter. She was called "The Lightening" because of her speed and how quickly she struck her enemies. She was one of the fastest people in the world. By the time she was nine years old, she could outrun a horse. She was so quick and light, that her father made her chase after demons to keep her in shape.
Throughout the world, tales of Rome were told of how quickly she could attack and leave an area entirely devastated. However, unlike her brothers whose tales were filled with horror and hate. The world grudgingly admired the princess.
She had a sword, a thin piece of blade that was as light as it was sharp. It could cut down trees and heads in one swing. Her swiftness and her sword solidify her nickname, Rome the Lightening. Despite how deadly she was, Rome was kinder than her siblings were. Often choosing the leave survivors then wiping out entire townships. In the towns that she governed, she allowed her conquered people to freely worship and practice their own beliefs and religions. All that was required of them was an oath of alliance to her father and that a percentage of their taxes paid to the Empire.
Rome was a beautiful woman. She had a beautiful face, a face so elegant it seemed to be created by angels themselves. She also had a gorgeous figure that attracted even the attention of other unworldly creatures. When she came to marrying age, she had many suitors, but the wolves were only allowed to marry other Wolves or the magic people of Lattice.
She was given to the wizard king of Lattice in hopes that her future children would have magic abilities. The Wizard king fell in love with Rome immediately. She fell in love, eventually.
Emperor Andrew had beautiful children and daughters that looked like angels but Rome's beauty outshined them all.
Magnus and Aurelius’s failure prompted Rome to defend her father's honor and restored his name in the eyes of the wolves. Since her marriage, she spent most of her time in the pampered world of the magic people. Protected under the Wolves, the Lattice citizens were spoiled, fabulously wealthy and lacked the concept of what poverty and violence meant. Unlike the clueless pampered magic people, Rome remained informed. After Magnus’s death, Rome spent word to her father that she would be next to chase after Dayton. She did not tell Dayton that she would be next. Instead, she had his movement followed and studied until she found a time perfect to strike her little brother.
On a cloudy day, Dayton was traveling through a dusty canyon. His actual destination was a large township on the edge of the Wolf Empire borders just outside the canyon. He wanted to gather supporters to stand behind him as he came closer to his father’s throne. It was a risk to return to Tricia, but Dayton suspected that he had sparked enough fear and perhaps admirers to start his own small army against the Emperor.
Despite the cloudy skies, the air was humid and sticky. It was uncomfortable day, and Dayton was hungry. He had not eaten in several days. He hoped in his mind that once he arrived at the township, he could grab a meal. Perhaps take a quick shower and get a new change of clothes.
It is stupid to be worried about baths and clothes at a time like this especially when food and gathering an army is more important.
Dayton pressed on, focusing on arriving to the township. In the heat, he decided to abandon his ruined shirt and marched on until he believed he saw something in the distance. It was three figures, two tall men and a woman. If Dayton's heart were still in his chest, it would have fallen from fear. Not anymore, fear no longer existed to him. Fear is a distant word now.
As the group walked closer to Dayton, he soon realized who the group was. It was Rome. Dayton frowned. He did not expect to meet her so soon, considering she was married and queen of another kingdom. She must have decided that she would be the one to bring him back to Tricia.
Within several minutes, Dayton stood before Rome and her two men. Rome’s men were not normal men but two tall figures, each dressed in a single color. Ace was dressed in red from head to two. He had no face as if someone erased it with a towel. While Jack was dressed in complete black, like Ace, he had no face. Attached to the back of Jack was a long wooden beam. Rome was sitting on her horse.
Dayton knew what this was. Rome was going to tie him to the beam, attached the beam to the horse to drag him through the earth to Tricia. The rocks in this canyon or anywhere would tear his flesh to ribbons. Despite knowing Rome clear intent to bring Dayton home in this fashion, he felt no fear. His confidence remained unshaken.
Rome got off her horse, removing her Queen's robe.
"Hello sister," Dayton said.
Rome did not respond. She took off her robe and handed it to one of her men.
Dayton took a step back. He was unprepared for Rome. He did not set any traps nor had any plan to kill her. He worried his lack of preparation would be his downfall. His thoughts were interrupted when Rome wrapped her hand around Dayton, ran with the boy into the side of a rocky canyon wall where she smashed his head repeatedly. Dayton blacked out at the mere first hit to his head. When Dayton became conscious, the first thing he felt was a pain so sharp and deep. It felt like rushing waves that refused to calm down. His entire body throbbed, and he felt rocks tear into his flesh.
Rome had broken his arms and legs, twisted them in the opposite direction, and then tied his legs and arms together. She had her men tie him to the beam so his legs and arms pointed to the sky while his belly, chest, and face faced the earth. In this way, rocks can tear at Dayton’s belly and chest and cause him tremendous pain, all while suffering broken limbs.
Dayton was knocked out cold from the pain.
The Queen and her men rode quickly to the township. "Someone is following us." Rome said to her men who rode next to her. "What are your orders, My Queen.?" Said Jack.
"I think they are after Dayton." Rome said. The trio reached a narrow passageway in the canyon. "Slow down." The Queen ordered. As she suspected a large explosion erupted, knocking them off their horses. In the smoke and dirt, two figures quickly came to Dayton side, untying him. They left as quickly as they came. Rome and her men got to their feet and watched the pair run off with Dayton.
"My Queen, Should we not go after them?" The red man said. The Queen smiled, "It seems that Dayton has supporters. Lets us follow them instead." Rome's shadow detached itself from her. It stood like a person and ran after the Dayton and his saviors. It attached itself to Dayton’s shadow without anyone noticing.
"We will return to my father and tell him that it’s now time to rise. Dayton has supporters." Rome said. "We will execute the traitors as well." Rome returned to Tricia with her men, Ace and Jack.
And so it came to pass, Rome returned to her Father's palace. Although Rome insisted that Dayton was not dead, the Emperor decided to shift his focus from Dayton to the missing Constance. In about 3 month’s time, she will give birth to her first child, a Perfect.
The Wolves believed that the Emperor was taking the proactive approach and was dead set on ridding Constance's shame. The actual truth was the Emperor has begun to accept that Constance was not giving up her child. Magnus, Aurelius, and Lillian were already killed by Dayton. The Emperor feared that he would lose Constance and her child at Dayton's hand. Constance was the only child from his dead ex wife. Should he lose her there would be nothing left of his late wife. He preferred his daughter alive with her child of shame then have them both killed by his own son. The Emperor was ashamed of his feelings and irrational thoughts. He kept them secret and let the others believed what they may. He ordered Rome to come with him, and the two continued their quest after Constance. Using Rome's success and the Wolves renewed trust in the Emperor. Emperor Andrew declared war on Dayton.
Dayton did not wake up until three days later. He found himself in a small cottage bed. He did not even know how he got to this cottage. Both of his arms and legs were set in casts. It would take a little over a month for his arms and legs to heal fully and be functional again. He had greatly underestimated Rome. All he remembered was Rome’s face before he blacked out. He had come too far for him to lose at Rome's hands.
His questions were soon answered when two wolf children, came to his room and proudly introduced themselves. Dayton was saved by Atalanta and Jason. They had run away from their homes to support Dayton. Atalanta and Jason were the children of noble Wolves. Both children were tall with bright golden yellow eyes to match. Atalanta was the color of almonds with round, oval eyes. Like all girl wolves, she lost her heart when she was 12. She was swift and strong, trained under the hands of Queen Rome. She also had a nasty habit to bite whomever she fought, especially Perfects. She enjoyed watching them die as their mind turned into a foggy darkness. She was 14.
Jason was the son of a war general, but his mother was a magic woman from Lattice. His skin was tanned from the sun with straight brown hair that resembled sticks. Passed from his mother, he could use magic as well, and he was skilled at it. He was sixteen. Dayton accepted their help and with them, he gathered a small army of supporters, about 100 wolves. War had erupted, and Dayton was determined to win the throne of his father.
He had to kill six more siblings to kill, a chore he accepted gladly.
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