Pello Island: Cassia by A.L. Jambor

brought their food and winked at Jim.  He smiled sheepishly and dug into his food.
    Darius ate slowly.  Since he had woken up in the ER over a week ago, he hadn’t been feeling very well.  Sex with Cassia had only made him feel worse.  He had chest pains on an off several times a day.
    “I woke up in a hospital.  The doctor told me I had a cardiac episode.  He told me to give up cigarettes.”
    “Jeez, you’re only 35.  I’d take his advice if I were you.”
    “I have a kid, Jim.  For some reason, the paperwork I got doesn’t have a name, but I think I know who it is.”
    Jim thought about it for a while, and then he nodded.
    “Yup, I bet you’re right.  She didn’t come to the mansion?”
    “No, which makes sense if she’s somebody’s kid.  I haven’t told Cass or Amatus about it yet.  I think Janus knows, but he’s not talking either.  He and Morta have something up their sleeves.”
    “How bad is your memory?” Jim asked.
    “I remember being on the island and…”
    “Yeah, well, we don’t have to go into that.  But nothing after that?”
    “I do remember some of my lives, but not much.  They must have messed with our memories this time.”
    “Can they do that?”
    “What else could it be?  And, I honestly don’t remember why I was so afraid.”
    “So, you tried to book a flight to Vegas last night, huh?”
     “I got pissed off.  I knew something was up with Morta and Cassia, and they wouldn’t let me stay while they talked.  Gambling always makes me feel better.”
    “And if you’d been able to book a flight, would you have called me?”
    “No, and that’s the truth.”
    “Well, the truth is the best.  But do you see how vulnerable you are?  We can’t let our guard down, Darius.  We have to remember who we are, as hard as that is sometimes.”
    “Who am I, Jim?  My name is Ian McAllister this time.  Last time I was Charles Davis.  So tell me, who am I?”
    “You’re a guy who always gets a second chance not to screw up.  That’s more than most guys could say.  Take advantage of having a clean slate.”
    Darius finished his lunch and reached for his cigarettes.
    “I’m going outside,” he said, and threw a ten dollar bill on the table.  Jim watched in dismay as he walked outside and lit up.
    Jim picked up the ten and left Rita a five.  He paid the check and joined Darius.
    “Do you want to drive there together?” Jim said.  Darius nodded and sucked in some smoke before crushing the butt on the ground, then they got into the BMW and headed for the meeting.
     

A Fashionable District of Rome
    Darius walked into the palatial townhouse owned by his father, Pius.  He could see his brother, Anthony, lounging on a couch with the daughter of Senator Cassius.  She was not particularly beautiful, not even attractive really, but she had the right pedigree.
    Anthony was a good-looking boy of seventeen.  He was already taller than Darius, who, at twenty-three, stood only 5’6”.  Anthony had begun his military training, and he and Darius often sparred with their swords.  Anthony won every time.  Anthony was large in every way.  He was almost six feet tall, unusual for a Roman.  With his broad chest and his wide arms, he would serve the military well.  By the time he was 21, he would be massive.
    Darius was slender and muscular.  He wasn’t as strong as Anthony, and would often find himself pinned to the floor during their wrestling matches.
    Darius walked over to the other couch and sat down.  Anthony smiled at him as he fed the girl some grapes.
    “Darius, this lovely creature is Justina.  She dined with us this evening with her father and mother.  Father was disappointed you weren’t there.  He had planned to introduce you to the lovely Justina.”
    “This is Darius!”  Justina exclaimed.
    “Yes, my pet, this is Darius,” Anthony replied.
    Justina got off the couch and ran over to Darius.  She sat on the couch and drew close to him.