[ WP ] The Roman Emperor has been murdered , You , his son age 15 have just heard the news 3 in the morning

A sharp gasp of air pierced through the throat and lungs of Cassius as he took a deep breath and opened his sticky eyes to the still-dark dawn. He woke to the sad song of a nightingale, singing too early in the day. The silk curtains fluttered as a draft flowed through the single window. It was too dark to see. The shadows of twilight clung to their few remaining hours, and the room was lit in a shade of blue. A man quietly sat in Cassius's room. 
 
 `` Wake up, child, evil days have fallen on Rome. Just as it has been doomed.'' said the man to Cassius softly, `` The day has come! Behold, son of the Emperor, the day has come!'' Then the man stood up and loomed over Cassius as a mountain over a field. 
 
 But Cassius did not quiver. `` What trick of day is it this time, dear Aphrates? Are you here to shock me into the legions again? My condition is such that I can not leave this room. You know this.'' And Cassius smiled at his uncle. 
 
 But Aphrates gripped Cassius by the arms with such vigour that Cassius's heart was suddenly struck by fear. `` I have gathered all the strength that I could of politicians and generals,'' hissed Aphrates, `` Listen! A cry is going up, even now, passing up the wind from the south from vale to vale, for the Emperor is dead!'' And Aphrates began to weep on the sheets of the bed. 
 
 `` Throw yourself out of this madness!'' said Cassius, `` A fey spirit has gripped you, what do you mean that the Emperor is dead?'' He spoke with a commanding tone, but his heart quailed at the thought. 
 
 Then Aphrates looked up and met Cassius in the eyes. The grey irises still wet and shining. Aphrates spoke, `` I have killed him, do n't you see? He was a stupid and evil king, and I have mortally wounded him. And now you too, must die. In the morning, the trumpets of Rome will greet the rising of the sun; and in the east the standard of Barbus, my friend, shall be raised, and in the west my standard will rise up as the sigil of my new kingship.'' 
 
 `` Please,'' said Cassius, who was now sweating and crying, `` do n't do this evil deed.'' 
 
 `` I have already done it a thousand times in my heart and hereafter I will do no more!'' cried out Aphrates. He grabbed his knife and brandished it in front of Cassius, then plunged it into the child's heart. Cassius raised up his frail and diseased arms in a pathetic defence, but died with hardly a whimper. 
 
 Barbus threw open the doors to the room and found Aphrates crying out and gnashing his teeth in grief and guilt at the feet of his dead nephew. `` It is finished, we have won,'' said Barbus, `` ere tomorrow, all records of the foolish emperor and his weak son will be removed from Rome; history will never find our shame.'' 
 
 Barbus left the room and Aphrates tried to listen to the lonely nightingale to quiet his troubled thoughts. But the bird had flown away, and it was as quiet as the void. 
 
 
 
 

