3. Caesar's story
The trireme is nearly here which means that my _s_e_x_ual and political objectives are that much closer to being realised. Gaius Cetellus is not only an object of my lust but also the key to my divinity. Although he doesn't know it, the boy's father will be my sponsor in the Senate and has enough votes to ensure that I am declared a god. I shall spare the boy's life as my first act as a god. Little does the good Senator know that I would not really have the boy put to death in any event - he is far too pretty for that.
Cetellus has been prepared for this visit to my palace under strict instructions. He was arrested after I left Rome for my summer retreat and his guards have been told that he is not be violated. I told them that he should be well groomed and well fed and that he should sleep in a room at the palace. I also told them that he was to be flushed out each day to ensure that his health was not compromised and that nothing more than a hand or strap was to be used on his rump should he misbehave. Knowing the penalty I would extract if my orders were disobeyed, I am sure Cetellus will arrive here looking wonderful.
Cetellus was his own worst enemy for he was far too well behaved at the School and at Court and is far too good looking. He is tall and perfectly proportioned with a well developed hairless chest and a backside that would entice any man. I have kept an eye on him for many years and my spies report that he has never lain with another. Seventeen years old and still a virgin - a remarkable feat in Rome. I shall rectify that in due course and have his father's support despite it.
Those wretches standing behind - Antonious and Zoticus - me don't even suspect my plan. They perhaps don't even know of my dreams as I stand on my mountaintop with my Empire before me. Out there are the slaves who are building the roads which will eventually extend to the further most concerns of my realm. Out there are the worthy citizens who pay the taxes to finance this vast domain. And out there are countless bodies waiting to satisfy my needs. Oh it is great fun being the master of the world!
Of course it was not always thus. When my uncle, the Divine Julius, was assassinated, I could easily have finished up in the gutter with my body bleeding my life away. But the ambitious Antony and the others decided upon civil war and I was cosseted in the bosom of Rome while they played out their petty wars.
I was only nineteen when the great Julius was murdered and am now twice that age. When the murder happened, Antony saw to my immediate safety, placing me under the protection of the wily Agrippa. Then Antony went off to war and set in train the event which led to my election as First Consul.
Agrippa has been a good friend but was a stern taskmaster. He taught me self-control and the pleasures of the flesh. At first he was fascinated by my looks and I think gazed upon me more in lust that with fatherly protection. I believe that is why he beat me on the slightest pretext and did so severely. Even though I was almost a man, he would order me to bare my buttocks for the rod or the lash, for even the most trivial offence. I still remember those beatings and sometimes want to return the favour but then I recall the lessons he was teaching me and I realise that it was for my own good.
Agrippa never tied me down for a beating. Rather, he insisted that I should tough it out and remain silently in position while he thrashed my backside. By the time I was safe from the wiles of Antony and his cronies, I could take up to forty strokes with the rod without so much as uttering a cry, despite the terrible agony I felt.
With great subtlety, Agrippa developed in me a relationship between pain and _s_e_x_ual arousal and most of my offspring were conceived in the presence of a switch gently thrashing my backside or when watching some hapless wretch being flogged or beaten. My wives also enjoyed these spectacles and each has proven most useful in providing potential heirs.
I shall marry again soon for I have taken a fancy to the political skills of the Lady Livia. She is cunning and vicious - the perfect partner for an Emperor.
Mind you, there are other who have done service who need watching for their cunning and their viciousness. Take Antonious, for example. He is here because I can trust him with my life but also because Agrippa brought him to me and allowed him to insinuate himself into my household. When he first arrived from Gaul with a vast number of slaves I knew to be on the watch for him and at the Imperial School he justified my suspicions. He does not know it but a corridor runs behind the wall from the Temple to the School and within the School there are passage ways which I and, I expect, the Temple virgins, may wander at will.
When Antonious was first appointed to training at the School, I could watch for hours at a time, with a slave between my legs, as Antonious went about his duties. He used one large room in particular for disciplining the boys. From my peephole in the elaborate decorations on the wall, I watched as he brought in the most pleasant looking boys and would lecture them on their tardiness. He then would challenge them regarding their performance and would almost have them begging to be punished.
Antonious clearly was aroused as each boy would remove his tunic and bend over the desk for his beating. Slowly he would walk around the boy, adjusting his position so that even the boy's rosebud would be on view. Then, selecting either a switch or a strap, Antonious would slowly lash the boy to the maximum number of strokes permitted. Sometimes, when a boy moved from his position because of the pain, Antonious would start the count over again. Most times, Antonious would touch the boys' throbbing backsides but would not enter. But there were a few occasions when he mounted one of the boys. I never intervened since it would expose my secret passages but he shall pay for his crimes.
Zoticus, on the other hand, is simply vicious. He tortures men and women with great relish and loves nothing more than to skewer them upon that monstrous instrument which hangs between his legs. Neither know it, but I play them against eachother. I know that Zoticus uses his tortures to gather information to discredit Antonious and wants nothing more than for me to give Antonious to him. Undoubtedly, one day, I shall, but not until I have had my fill of that young manly backside and have lost interest in seeing it beaten as well as speared upon my organ.
Zoticus needs to be watched as well, for he is assuming a position well above his station. I have had him beaten once but I think the time is coming where I shall need to do so again. Perhaps such an event might be an appropriate introduction to Cetellus to the pain and pleasures which await him. We shall see.
Each of the people closest to me have secrets and do not know that I am aware of most of them. Each tries to flatter me with human gifts in the form of the sweetest boys and men they can find. They think they secure favour with me in this way but, in reality, I find such groveling to be demeaning. Yes, it is time to put them in their places and tonight's feast shall be the setting.
Antonious and Zoticus have been intensely competitive for my favour, yet each serves a different purpose.
The trireme is now at the beach and will soon unload its cargo. It will take some time for the men to bring my guests to the palace but no matter. I'm sure this evening will be entertaining.
As I summon Antonious and Zoticus, they hurry to my side - ever eager to oblige. I wish them to prepare the banquet hall and ensure that there are leather restrains available and a good supply of rods, straps and whips. I also direct them to ensure that the special table is brought into the room - the one with the large hole in its centre through which a chosen performer might hang his testicles as he undergoes punishment. The table is also adjustable so that its occupant might also be bent over without having to be released from his confinement. They laugh with glee at the prospect of my special guest being disciplined tonight on the table. They may not be quite so merry some hours from now.
4. Cetellus' story
All I said was that "Caesar's would be _d_a_m_n_ed for seizing our property" and within days I was in chains. My arrest was a shock from which I have yet to recover even though it has been more than three weeks since it occurred. I have been kept, until now in a room in Caesar's palace but under heavy guard. I have been treated well although my captors have punished me for resisting the awful cleansing processes forced upon me. Each morning and each evening they have come for me.
The first night I had no idea what their intentions were and really thought they meant to kill me. It was only natural that I would struggle. Quickly they stripped off my clothes and bent me over the nearest couch and spanked me like a little boy. For some reason which I do not understand, my organ became erect and they made fun of me for that, suggesting that I likes getting my backside spanked.
When I was sobbing from the pain in my rear, they took me to another room and held me down while they inserted a small tube into my rectum and then poured oil into my innards. At first it was just embarrassing but soon the quantity of oil became painful and I cried out. They held me down while the oil did its work and then allowed me to empty myself. The process was then repeated to make sure I was cleansed and then I was allowed to wash.
I hated the experience and saw no need for it and each time they came for me I would try and fend them off. One of the guards, I think on the third or fourth night, gave me my punishment with me bent over his lap and he played with my swollen member so much that I could not help but spend my seed on his tunic. From then on, whenever they thought I should be punished, they would use a hand or strap and beat me until I had climaxed and then the cleansing would take place.
When they allowed my father to visit me just two days before we left for Ostia, I was so ashamed of my treatment and behaviour that I could not bring myself to tell him what had been happening. Instead, we spoke of what might befall me at Caesar's hands. My father, head of one of the more powerful factions within the Senate, advised me that there was a rumor that I would be sentenced to death for having cursed Caesar. He could not confirm that this was so, but advised me that he would try to intercede. Our all too brief meeting ended with his hugging he to his chest and advising me to be obedient and humble before the mighty Caesar.
I was taken to Ostia and groomed prior to our boarding the trireme which has brought us to this Island where Caesar has built a small palace in which to escape the summer heat of Rome. To my surprise, I was carried on a litter up the steep hillsides and allowed to wash before being brought to this chamber. Now I wait for Caesar's arrival, not knowing whether I shall survive this day.
Without fanfare, Caesar stands before me and I bow in homage.
"Cetellus, my dear boy," says Caesar, "there is no need for you to cringe so. I have had you brought here to judge the crime reported against you and to dispense justice. If you are innocent, then you shall be my guest here for a few days and then may return to Rome. If you are guilty, then I shall have to consider the means by which you should be punished. Now, stand up my boy and let me have a look at you."
I stand. I haven't found my tongue and am like a mute as Caesar gazes at me. He smiles and compliments me on my fine looks and sturdy body. I blush from the praise. Caesar stand there looking at me in the fading light as the Sun goes to its rest and slaves enter to light the torches by which we might see.
"Your trial shall be tonight, young Master Cetellus." says Caesar and bids someone behind me to come forward. A tall, black Nubian is swiftly at my side as Caesar instructs him to take me to the chamber set aside for my visit. Zoticus, for that is the name Caesar used, takes me firmly by the arm and escorts me from Caesar's presence.
Zoticus leads me to a room, which contains a wash basin, a new tunic and a couch.
"You shall stay here until Caesar commands your presence" says Zoticus and prepares to leave.
"Please," I say, "cannot you tell me what will happen to me?"
Zoticus stops and turns and smiles at me, but I am not sure it is a friendly smile. "Well, young Master, I cannot say," he says, "for only Caesar can judge you guilt or innocence. If you are guilty, well he may have you flogged or executed. I know not what is in his mind. But I must say that there are many here who would have Caesar appoint them as you executioner."
Seeing the look of horror on my face, Zoticus continues: "Why should that surprise you. All of Rome knows of your beauty and, shall we say, lack of experience and many would like the pleasure of leading you to a slow and not so innocent death. I should be grateful to Caesar should he allow me to take you down that path."
I am stunned that this slave should presume that Caesar might simply give me to him to be killed in whatever way he might wish. Drawing upon my courage, I confront this evil man: "Caesar would never allow a slave like you to touch me".
"There you are wrong" comes the retort " for I am Zoticus, Caesar's principal torturer and I have no need of sword or such to bring you to your end." With that statement, Zoticus throws open his robe to disclose the means by which he would take my life.
I stare in horror for the member swinging between his legs is monstrous. Even in its unexcited state, it hangs almost to his knees and is almost in girth the same size as my forearm. I have seen many men at the baths and many boys at School, but I have never seen such a sight.
Zoticus closes his robes and walks to me and takes my face in his hands. Looking directly into my eyes, he says: "I can give you pain such as you have never dreamt of, boy, and don't ever forget that." He leaves.
I tremble at the lust and menace which I have just seen in Zoticus' eyes. Could it truly be that Caesar would have me impaled upon that huge piece of flesh so that my life might be drained from my body? There have been many stories about the inventive ways in which Octavian has disposed of his enemies, but surely this would be an obscenity too great even for Caesar.
I try to remain calm and think of what I might say at my trial.
When the guards come for me, I try to remain calm but when we arrive at our destination I am surprised. I had expected a formal meeting with Caesar. Instead, I am led into a huge banquet hall, in the middle of which are couches and cushions strewn about around a large dining table upon which a feast is on offer. The table is in the centre of the room and beyond it is another, higher one, the purpose of which I cannot ascertain.
I am introduced to Caesar's guests who include Antonious, whom I know and the Lady Livia and a significant number of Rome's merchant princes. I am seated opposite Octavian who welcomes me and invites me to eat. I drink a cup of wine mixed with water as I sup.
Part way through the meal, Caesar interrupts the casual banter.
"Now tell us, Giaus Cetellus," says Octavian in a friendly manner, "is it true that you wished me dead?"
Qickly gathering my wits, I explain my outburst. "Noble Caesar, I did not express such a wish, but I confess to suggesting that you would be judged ill by the gods for seizing our property. I apologise for having said so but my father had paid the taxes and, if they were not received by the Treasury, it was not of our doing. I would never wish other than Caesar reigns forever. Truly, I never uttered a curse or wished you ill."
"Antonious," asked Caesar, "what do you make of this confession?"
Antonious looked at me and then at Caesar. "Noble lord," he said, "the lad might be telling the truth. At the Imperial School, young Gaius Cetellus was regarded as an honest lad. However, much time has elapsed since the incident and I should want to see whether his confession might change with some encouragement."
A thin smile crosses Caesar's lips as he ponders Antionious' cleverly crafted response.
"It seems to me," says Caesar, "that our young guest's confession should be tested and after we finish dining, we shall commence that process. Now let us finish our meal without this unpleasantness spoiling our appetites."
I sit glumly, not able to take another piece of food into my churning stomach, for I fear that Caesar has some evil plan in mind.
Towards the end of the meal, I see guards enter the room and when he is finished, Caesar commands that the Lady Livia should take the guests to the pavilion near the baths where they might relax in the warm breeze. Antonious and Zoticus are requested to remain and look pleased to be so directed.