A Brief Short Story: Vaius

Tacitus tells us in the introduction to his Annales that his intent is to “relate a little about Augustus, Tiberius, et cetera” and to in fact do so “sine ira et studio” -- without bitterness or bias.1 Experience, however, tells us that this aim is rarely executed, and that we must be all the more suspicious when it is stated outright. Throughout the Annales, Tacitus rather gives the impression that his lack of bias is evidenced by his evenhanded application of bitterness to all his subjects. But is this really the case? While Tacitus tends to apply his sarcastic wit universally – to barbarian and Roman alike – this is not necessarily evidence of lack of bias. Taking the destruction of Mona and Boudicca's revolt (roughly 14.28-37) as a

“…dragged from the house on his knees. His face was bloody and when he tried to speak he cried with pain.”

The stone hollow echoed with dozens of small breaths and the clunky shuffling of chairs and tables. The lighting pulsated, from glowing orbs, the color of mandarins, positioned near walls throughout the room. Every child in the room was quiet in fear of disobeying and in pure content that today was another school day. Eilig sat in the back left of the room, at an ancient wooden desk with years worth of scratches and pen marks. Everyone else’s desks were identical: a scribbled-out heart an inch away from the corner, a deep, inch long scratch on the side. The silence was contagious until a woman entered the room, with hare-like features she clutched a clipboard, needle-like claws holding the soft wood in place.

Vishah tumbled through empty air and came crashing down on hard stone. The pain was nothing compared to what he had been through. He sat up, the light with the void had attacked was still there, burning across the room. He blinked repeatedly, trying to banish the blinding

"That must be where the corpse is.." Lau murmured. We saw a few people wailing, probably over the deaths. Ciel walked over to a man in brown, who must be a police officer. Sebastian came with him too as all of us stayed behind. "Are you guys sure that a job like this is fit for Ciel?" I asked, feeling bad for the poor kid. "He's the queen's guard dog, remember Lily? He's solved many cases.. without getting hurt." Madam Red answered for me, and then I remembered; Ciel has a demon butler. That's probably how he solves most of his cases.

"Time does that when you put pleasure before duty son." Merigal said. "Now I want you at the blacksmith's this instant and no

The siren caresses his dainty fingers through Carden's coarse hair for a loving moment before grabbing a handful of it and flinging him onto his ass without remorse. Car growled playfully, it riled him up in all the right places when he had to work to have his lover. He placed himself on all fours slowly crawling up while Jude began disrobing his own belt from its loops. His vampire moaned needingly under his breath, his tracks behind put on hold when the siren’s boot was pressed dominantly into his throat causing him to choke back on his own

Zepher looked away from the bloody mess he created, disgusted from it. The air around him reeked of metal. “How,” he whispered, “how could I have done this again?” The blue-eyed boy retracted his needle-sharp fangs while walking over to the limp body. As he reached for the woman’s petite wrist to check for a pulse, her chest rose, eyes fluttering. What am I supposed to do? She can’t see this! After a moment’s thought, Zepher had a plan.

My father fell over; revealing my unlikely savior, Vanitas. His yellow eyes glared down at him. There was great fury in them.

He cared about what she thought, so when she dared him, he and I both knew he was in trouble. He tried to find his own way out, but then he stood and thought about it. He scratched his arm, reaching out slowly. His pale hand reached for the shining bronze door handle, slightly jiggling it, only to feel a cold breeze thrill up his spine as he did. Looking down at the floor, glass shards appearing almost out of nowhere by his side. The pieces were double sided; one stained a pale-peach color, the other pure white. His heart was racing faster- thumping in his ears; it was like a metronome stuck on the pace of three hundred. He felt the side of his face, grazing his cheek. It was gone; an empty void in his face. It was cracking like porcelain. “There’s nothing more tempting than a locked door, and you should know, Lincoln Thorndale.”

When I got the Voalte I took sometime to put my thoughts together and took some-time to pray and head to the floor. When I introduced myself to the nurses they seem so concern for the patient and when they heard that it might be Leukemia they took a deep breath and when I asked if I can go in they immediately said yes. Before going to the room I took some breath and prayed as I sanitized my hand. The room looked deemed and only the TV seemed on, I knocked softly the door and nobody responded, I knocked with the door a bit cracked and mom seemed to get out of the patients bed. I introduced myself and mom allowed me to come in and as I washed my hands I introduced myself to Suzy. The room looked very empty with not personal belongings but did

In this particular room, students face the front of it, watching the dry-erase board that covers nearly half of the jagged brick wall. Patiently, they wait for new and unfamiliar terms to be scribbled onto it. The sound of small whispers and the clock’s repetitive ticking fills this small space.

I kept my head down as we walked in and I held my dad’s hand. The AC blew right on me as I stepped in and it automatically felt amazing. But, the smell of over-used cleaning supplies was nauseating. Breathing through my mouth was my only escape from the smell, although it even tasted a little too clean. It was nearly all the way quiet, but the typing of keys on a keyboard filled the room a feeling of work, business, and seriousness. The woman in at the desk didn’t look up, so we passed by silently and quickly.

Sitting up from his mattress on the floor, he could see the light from his window outlining the corners and details of his room. The dusty brown walls. Their were cracks and parts of the wall paper were tearing off. The tan carpet floor and dark stains here and their. He could also see how messy his room was, which was strange because he’s usually quiet tidy. Magazines, notes, and blue prints scattered across the floor. He could also see the cans of Citrus Acid energy drink around the recycling bin. It was getting full.

. As I walked into room I noticed everything from a different perspective. Each step that I took on the white, polish floor I was hesitant to find a sit. The room is often disorganized and this drives me crazy. As I walk to my small desk the color of a tree bark I seat weary. I took out my notebook and pen ready for the lesson. The class starts at 2: 00 pm but I was in school from 8 am so that contributed to my feeling of being tired. My brown eyes started observing the room like a hawk. Noticing how the walls were painted a nice ivory color, there were four chalkboards and a stunning view of the campus. I like to sit next to the window because the light helps wake me up a little.