Mark of Mars Page 3

“Then you’ll be glad to hear the majority don’t go in your arm,” beamed the Professor and led the three of them out the room.

  Jenna sat in the middle of her bed, cradling a cup of coffee. Her mind was having trouble comprehending the day’s events. She had gone back almost two thousand years in time. Something that was not possible yet she had done it. And she had been vaccinated against a whole range of diseases which had long been extinct. Just your average first day at University.

  But the things she could learn from spending time in ancient Rome, get first-hand accounts from people about life, to actually live history. She had just two days of classroom training with the Professor and then the three of them would be off on their adventure of a lifetime. Just the thought of it filled her abdomen with butterflies. She would be living in ancient Rome.

  Amelia slopped into the room, rubbing her butt cheek. “I’m sure that bloody doctor enjoyed giving all those injections.”

  “He was grinning a lot,” Jenna giggled. “But then he probably doesn’t get to see many cute butts like yours. Have you spoken to your family yet?”

  Amelia flopped down on Jenna’s bed, stomach first. “Yeah. They were a bit surprised we were going on location so soon.” She looked at the photo on Jenna’s night stand. “Do you mind me asking how the accident happened?”

  Jenna smiled. “I’ve no problem talking about my parents. In fact, it helps me remember them. It was a car accident, an icy mountain road in Switzerland. The car skidded and went straight into the ravine. They were both killed on impact.”

  “Where were you at the time?”

  “Boarding school. It was a horribly black period for me, no brother or sister to turn to, just my frosty aunt and hideous cousins.”

  “So you went to live with your aunt?”

  “Sort of. Luckily for me, the executor of my parents’ will was a lifelong friend of our family and he saw to it that my aunt got very little of my parents’ estate. It was carefully tied up in a trust for me and paid out for my expenses only. My aunt therefore saw no benefit in taking me in. Although she was by rights my legal guardian, I spent all my holidays staying with friends where I could.”

  "You poor thing, that must have been awful.” Amelia suddenly felt guilty for all the arguments she had had with her parents. She would be devastated if anything happened to them.

  “It’s certainly a period of my life I wouldn’t like to repeat, but it did make me strong. I have a very healthy respect for life and am damned and determined to enjoy it.”

  “I guess having no family makes you the ideal McVale candidate.”

  “Yes, no-one to miss me so I can disappear for long periods.”

  “I take it that means you have no boyfriend either?”

  Jenna pulled a face. “Yes, I don’t value the male race too highly.”

  “How come?”

  “I like to be noticed for my brain. Most men just see me for something else.”

  “At least you’re seen. I’ve always been really awkward around boys, so kept my nose stuck in a book instead.”

  “The wisest option,” Jenna sighed. “Remember in Rome we have to be meek and subservient.”

  “Maybe we should introduce girl power to them.”

  Jenna laughed. “I’m not sure how well I will do. I’m not very good at being told what to do by a man. And I’d hazard a guess neither are you?”

  “You’re right. Rome is certainly a man’s world. Which is your favourite Roman period?”

  Jenna did not even have to think about that question. “It has to be Emperor Trajan’s reign. He was one of the best Emperors, in my view.”

  “And that’s where we’re headed, right?”

  “It certainly is. Professor Daniels could not have selected better.”

  Something on Jenna’s back was itching up a storm. It was just below her left shoulder blade where her birthmark was. She rubbed her back against one of the bed posts.

  “You look like Baloo from the Jungle Book,” Amelia giggled. “What’s up?”

  “I’m really itchy. Must be a reaction to the vaccinations.”

  “Let me have a look.” Amelia pulled up her top at the back. “Hell, is that a tattoo?”

  “No, it’s a birthmark.”

  “Jenna, this is golden. Birthmarks are usually red and very unattractive.”

  “Golden? It should be bronze.” Jenna rolled off the bed and tried to get a better look in the mirror. Amelia was right, the arrowhead mark had changed colour. “If it’s still itchy tomorrow I guess I should let Medical know.”

  Amelia pulled up her top again. “How can this be a birthmark? It’s beautiful.”

  “My mother called it the Mark of Mars. Not quite sure what she meant by that but it sounds much nicer that just a bog standard birthmark.”

  CHAPTER 3

  The last two days had passed in a haze of vaccinations and lessons for Jenna. Sarah had taught her everything she needed to know about how to style and wear her hair, how ancient temple handmaidens dressed and the Professor had done his part on rituals, ceremonies and what to expect from life in ancient times.

  The three friends had just finished their last tutorial with Professor Daniels when he asked Jenna to stay behind.

  “Something’s bothering you, Jenna,” the Professor stated bluntly. “What is it?”

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” Jenna flapped her hand dismissively.

  “I’m about to send you back two thousand years in time. I can only do that if you are fully committed.”

  Jenna gave a loud sigh. “We’ve spent time covering the rituals for worshipping the various Gods, yet you do not believe in their existence?”

  “They are just myths, Jenna.”

  “Most myths and legends are based around some element of truth.”

  “Like the centaur or hydra?” the Professor smiled.

  Jenna took the bait. “I could argue the point that the ancient Greeks had already got an insight into genetic crossbreeding. We have crossbred zebras and lions, and horse and donkeys. They just went a little further in evolution and thought about crossbreeding a human and a horse.”

  “What about the hydra?”

  “Maybe they got their idea from seeing the first co-joined twins.”

  “None of what was written about the Gods is actually possible.”

  “But an archangel visiting a young virgin girl and telling her she is pregnant with the son of the one true Christian God is believable? I think we believe what fits with what we’ve been taught. We’ve been conditioned into believing that there is only one deity.”

  “You really think that Olympus exists?”

  “Does heaven?” she retaliated.

  “I’m an atheist,” the Professor replied flatly.

  “Convenient,” Jenna huffed. “I believe that there must be something for the people to base their faith on, however far-fetched it might seem to us. A whole civilisation was built around worshipping the Gods. The legends must have started somewhere.”

  “So if the Gods are immortal, where are they today?” The Professor was enjoying his theological debate.

  “Well, our God is over two millennia old and he’s still being worshipped. The question is whether or not the Roman Gods are just the Greek ones with new names or whether they were actually reborn. And if they were the Greek ones, did they go on to become the Norse Gods?”

  “There’s no physical proof of them ever existing.”

  “Other than a whole nation worshipping them for hundreds of years? But there is also no proof that they did not exist. You can same the same of our God; there is no actual hard evidence to prove he exists.”

  “I think you have your special assignment for this year, Jenna. I want evidence that the Roman Gods actually existed. If you can obtain that, I’ll award you with a lifelong membership of McVale.”

  Jenna laughed. “What kind of proof did you want? I could always attempt to bring a deity back through the gateway. How about Mars? Or would
you prefer Jupiter?”

  The Professor shook his head. “I’m sure you’ll think of something innovative.”

  Jenna headed back to her room. The existence of the Gods was a subject she was quite passionate about. Who’s to say the Gods never existed? Every civilisation had their version of Gods, so what made hers real and theirs not? Christianity had perhaps lasted one of the longest, but that did not make it the only real religion. Islam had been around for millennia. So much effort was put into the worship of the Gods in Rome, it must have been based on something tangible. Well, she certainly had her work cut out for her if she wanted to prove her point to the Professor. Perhaps she could persuade the statue of Mars to spring into life? Now that would be quite something. In fact, she became all flushed just thinking about a man who actually looked like that.

  She logged onto Facebook later that evening and updated her status; she would be out of touch for a while. It would seem so weird being away from all modern technology; no phones, no iPod, no laptops, no hair straighteners. How was a girl to survive? Worse, how would she get through PMS without chocolate? Could she wake up in the morning without coffee? And her toothbrush? Guess she would soon find out.

  The time had come for the three students to return to Rome. But just how ready could you be to go back in time, Jenna thought to herself? They waited nervously in the gateway’s antechamber.

  Amelia grabbed Jenna’s and Luke’s hand. “This is it, almost time to go.” Her dark eyes sparkled with anticipation.

  “It’s a shame we can’t all be in the same temple,” Luke sighed, “but you guys must promise to visit regularly and fill me in on the gossip.”

  “You bet,” Jenna hugged him. “Besides I think you have a better looking statue than us!”

  Professor Daniels appeared in the chamber. “Right you three, are you ready to go?”

  They all nodded eagerly.

  “Good. I’ll see you back here in a few weeks’ time to catch up.”

  Jenna took a depth breath and headed through the gateway, with Amelia and Luke close behind her.

  Gaius was waiting for them on the other side with another temple priest.

  “Welcome back. Luke, this is Thomas, he will help you settle in while I take the girls over to Apollo’s temple. Ladies, if you’ll follow me please.” His voice sounded odd, but Jenna could not figure out what was wrong.

  She gave Luke another hug. “See you tomorrow. Keep safe.”

  “Jenna, you don’t have the translator so you must always remember to speak in Latin. Amelia and Luke have translators so will understand you.” Gaius reprimanded her.

  Of course, Jenna thought to herself. That’s why Gaius sounded so strange, he was speaking in Latin.

  As Gaius led them through the temple Jenna brushed past the statue of Mars. Still as handsome as ever. She let her hand trail over his arm lightly. What was it with this statue that she couldn’t resist touching? A marking on his shield caught her eye before she could look away. It stopped her in her tracks, she was amazed she did not notice it before. It was the arrowhead logo, his mark. The same mark was on her back. Perhaps we are destined to be together, Jenna mused dreamily. If only!

  They paused a moment at the entrance to the temple as Gaius checked them over. “All looks fine, wraps well and truly covering your faces please. Apollo’s temple is located on the other side of the Forum Romanum. To get there we have to cross the Trajan Forum which will be rather busy right now, so stay close.” He looked at Jenna. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to have trouble with you?” It was a rhetorical question. Jenna smiled sweetly and pulled her wrap even lower.

  The heat hit them as they stepped from the temple. It was almost oppressive. And the smell, it was quite nauseating, Jenna thought she might vomit. “You will get used to the odours,” Gaius whispered.

  Gaius led them quickly across the Forum of Trajan, not letting them have time to stop and marvel, they would have plenty of time for sightseeing later. The Forum was packed with vendors and despite her best efforts, Jenna got side-tracked. She had done her best not to look at the buildings, but how could she not look at the market stands, they contained items only seen in museums in her time? Pottery, jewellery, silks, everything caught her attention. And when did a woman not love a market? And bright shiny things? Curiosity got the better of her and when she looked back up, she could not see either Gaius or Amelia. Perfect, lost within the first few minutes of being here, that must be a record.

  Recalling her geography of this ancient city, she knew if she continued on ahead, she would reach the Forum Romanum and the temple was not far from there.

  She managed to keep herself focussed enough to reach the Forum Romanum. Standing in the middle of the famous plaza, she spun around trying to get her bearings as to which way Apollo’s temple was from there. She hoped she would see something in the distance which looked like the Imperial Palace, as the temple was situated close to that. But her mind was too preoccupied by the fact she was in the Forum Romanum, with all its civic buildings completely intact. Including the Senate House which was just a few feet away. It felt like she was in a historical dream.

  “You appear lost,” a deep voice spoke behind her.

  Jenna turned around and came face to face with, judging from his robes, a Senator. And a very distinguished looking one at that. He had the most wonderful mid length white hair and a matching short white beard. The lines on his face showed his age.

  “I am looking for the temple of Apollo,” she remembered her Latin this time.

  “A temple handmaiden?” he smiled kindly.

  “Yes, and I have just lost my travelling companions. Could you direct me?”

  “I will show you the way.” He indicated for her to follow. “I am Senator Aurelius.”

  “Jenna Duvall,” she smiled up at the Senator.

  “A foreigner? I take it you have not been in Rome long?”

  “I have only just arrived.”

  “And how did you manage to lose your escort so quickly?”

  “The Trajan market,” Jenna winced. “I have a habit of being easily distracted.”

  What woman doesn’t, Aurelius sighed to himself. “Where have you come from?”

  “A small island in the middle of the ocean.” Professor Daniels had been quite explicit that they were not to say they were from Britannia. As Rome was currently invading the country, they would be considered spies or prisoners of war and most likely arrested.

  “What is its name? I have travelled quite extensively so might know it.”

  “It is called Arula. It is a very long way from here.” And if you’ve heard of it, I’ll eat my wrap, Jenna thought to herself.

  Senator Aurelius smiled. “I have obviously not travelled extensively enough. And is Arula under Roman rule?”

  It was Jenna’s chance to smile widely. “No, it’s not. I believe it is too far and too small for the Empire to bother with.”

  “If the women are as feisty as you, then perhaps we should make a detour.”

  Jenna laughed. The Senator was certainly charismatic.

  “Do you mind me asking how you are a servant of Apollo if your island is not under Roman rule?” The senator continued his questioning.

  “Worship of the Gods is not restricted to just Rome. There are many other cultures out there that worship Gods, lots of them very similar to the ones you have. Some, like Apollo, even carry the same name.”

  Jenna looked up to find the Senator smiling down at her. “You are a very knowledgeable young woman.”

  “I know, it’s something that’s not looked upon too favourably here,” Jenna pulled a face.

  Senator Aurelius laughed. “I, myself, find an educated woman very appealing, but it is true that there are many men who prefer a woman to look just decorous.”

  “It’s a universal problem,” she sighed dramatically.

  “Are you planning on staying in Rome long?”

  “A while, I hope. I am keen to learn as
much as possible about life here.”

  “Well, we are almost at your temple. This is the Temple of Minerva,” he pointed to a small but beautiful building. “Apollo is just up ahead. “

  “It is so very kind of you, Senator Aurelius. I would have got hideously lost without your assistance.”

  “The pleasure was all mine, young Jenna Duvall. And if you need to know anything about this great city, I would be more than happy to help you. I can usually be found around the Forum Romanum.”

  “As I am cursed with a never ending curiosity, I may well take you up on that kind offer, Senator.”