Project Cleopatra

Chapter 20:

I found Julius walking around with a scowl on his face talking to himself. He was heading in the direction of the party.

Relief flooded through me. Brutus was nowhere in sight.

Julius seemed utterly lost pointing left as if asking himself for directions and I smiled knowing the feeling.

"Gaius!" I called out and he looked up.

His brows deepened even further as if he didn't know who I was. Then his eyes widened. Maybe Julius had told him or maybe Gaius had told Julius who I actually was. At least he wasn't trying to attack himself.

He made his way towards me and I met him halfway, pulling him into a hug. "I heard about the fainting incident. I probably should have warned you. Unless you knew already. Hi, Julius. Cleopatra says to remain calm, old man. It's okay, he'll be out of your body as soon as he can."

"Wait...Thea!" Julius asked, his eye lit up in disbelief and I nodded. 

"Remember I told you I was Cleopatra."

He paused as a smirk began to form and his mischievous eyes gleamed. He seemed to put the puzzle pieces together. "Oh dear, yes! It's coming back to me. I completely forgot because I was so excited to tell you about me being related to Caesar. This is too good to be true. How-how did you get here?" he asked, his hands comfortingly squeezing my arms.

Though he seemed to be keeping his distance. The same way Marcus did before he knew I was Cleopatra. It was strange considering Gaius normally didn't care about personal space.

"Octavian was an idiot and got his DNA mixed up with yours. He was transported here shortly after you and I discovered the first key had one more use so I got it," I explained.

"Good, good. Do you know where Octavian is – or rather should who he is?" he chuckled but he looked distracted as if he was looking for something.

"Um, no. Marcus said I should get you first and then we'd try to find Octavian. God, I want to throttle that brat."

Julius' grip on my arm suddenly tightened and he quickly pulled me aside to a more hidden sight.

"Right, Marcus." He looked back and followed his gaze and his face blanked.

"Is everything okay? Why are we hiding?"

"Oh no, I just..." he sighed. "I've never time travelled. Usually, only trained soldiers do this so I'm nervous. I don't know why I'm hiding, to be honest."

I pouted feeling slightly bad for him. He looked nervous. That was one of the only tell-signs that he wasn't Julius. That and he also was much less enthusiastic than his normal persona.

Then again we were in a crisis.

I placed a hand on Julius's shoulder and he nearly flinched as he looked at it before quickly relaxing his body again. "It's okay. Marcus is distracting Brutus. Let's go back to my chambers where Marcus will meet us." His eyes followed my hand as Cleopatra reached up to adjust his golden brooch and didn't leave it until I dropped my hand back to my side. Julius's blue eyes darkened and he nervously shifted away from me. "Why is Brutus after Marcus?"

"Well, Brutus may have seen me, Cleopatra, kissing Marcus who is trapped in Mark Anthony's body." Julius scoffed in disbelief and laughed. More like he cackled. "The gods must be looking down on me tonight!" he cheered as he looked to the sky. Before I could ask what he meant a grin grew on his face but the emotion didn't reach his eyes. "We must get to Marcus before Brutus does. I think I may know who the son of a bitch actually is but before we do that, I have a plan."

I tried not to let my annoyance show. Gaius was speaking in riddles and all I wanted was to get back to Marcus.

"What plan?"

"Just follow my lead, Thea. We're gonna put on a show." A twisted grin formed on his face and I gulped. He took my hand and led me to the main hall of the Curia di Pompeo. He seemed quieter than usual but I trusted Professor Gaius with my life at this point because if anyone could get us home it would be him and Marcus and figured he was too busy coming up with a plan.

"Let's go, Gaius."

He smiled offering me his arm. "I have never been so happy to be called Gaius in my entire life," he said, smirking as if he had an inside joke about the situation, as we made our way to the wine party. 

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