Three of a Kind - Part One

Shepherd Faustulus waited impatiently for his wife, Acca Larentia, outside the Sybil's cave of Alba Longa.

She consulted the oracle every month, full of hope, but the predictions, indicating promising signs, had so far not produced the wished-for child.

He had done what a man had to do, more than satisfactorily judging by his spouse's passionate response, but with no end result.

These regular sessions were proving quite expensive, with having to employ another shepherd to look after the flock during his absences and the hefty fees charged by the prophetess.

Anyway, as he loved his consort, he put up with the inconvenience.

While he was deep in thought, she exited the cave with a broad smile.

“Great news,” she said, ”it will happen soon, and it will be twins.”

The shepherd received this information with scepticism. It was inconceivable that she could conceive after so many years of infertility, but he kept mum and acquiesced to her assertion.

OOO 

Marcus had never claimed to be a god.

He was a full-blooded young man who had managed to get access to the temple of Vesta undetected by the Pontifex Maximus, who oversaw six young Vestal Virgins, aided by twelve High Priestesses tasked to ensure that the virgins complied with their duty of maintaining the city's eternal fire and observing a vow of chastity for 30 years.

Unlike their young charges, there were no constraints on the priestesses to be celibate.

All of them had taken advantage of the unexpected visitations of the virile young guest; had experienced and relished Marcus's lovemaking, which they described, with great gusto, as 'divine'.

Rhea Silvia, the eldest of the six virgins, had been forced by her uncle Amulius, who had overthrown his brother Numitor, the king of Alba Longa, to become a member of the select group to avoid her giving birth to male heirs that might usurp his crown.

She had listened to the constant plaudits of the sexual exploits of Marcus and itched to find out more, even though she knew that by breaking the vow of chastity, she risked certain death.

Who was this boy? How was he able to come to the Temple at will, without being challenged by anyone? Could he be a deity in disguise, like Jupiter, who assumed different identities?

She had heard the story of Leda and the Swan.

The more she thought, the more she convinced herself that it was the only explanation. Even the name Marcus might be an alias for Mars, the god of war.

This conviction excited Rhea Silvia. A feeling of warmth coursed through her body, and her heart beat faster near his presence.

Unwittingly, she had guessed right. He was indeed the wayward son of Jupiter whose perverse behaviour had influenced the boy's conduct.

One evening, when Marcus entered the Temple surreptitiously, Rhea was immersed in the piscina, a small courtyard pool, trying to rid her mind of impure thoughts.

She was gently being caressed by the warm water, and she dreamt of being embraced by a muscular body, a sensation which felt pleasurable and painful at the same time.

In her confused state of mind, she imagined seeing Marcus drying himself by the edge of the pool and leaving the courtyard hurriedly, but when she opened her eyes, the only person visible was Tarpeia, a Sabine Vestal Virgin who was a blabbermouth believed to be an informant of the High Priestesses.

OOO