I still remember those days, like it was yesterday.

It was a time of Great Empires. From the silk Empire of the East, to the vast oceans in the West. And in the North, our Father's great Roman Empire, to the vastness of the Land of the Sun God Ra, ruled by the Great Pharaoh, our mother, Cleopatra VII Philopator.

Me and my 3 brothers, were born in luxury. Though many had coveted the Egyptian land, our mother, through her wits and ingenuity, had managed, to not only  secure her throne, but ours as well. Or at least, that's what we were taught back then.

In those days of uncertainty, Mother had insisted upon, us having the highest education possible. And that meant, for us to have, the High Priest of the Temple of Thoth, as our personal tutor. He had been our mother's tutor as well.

On our fifth birthday, my twin brother, Alexander Helios, and I, Cleopatra Selene, were introduced for the first time, to High Priest Setna, who was to be our tutor. Just as he was to our big brother, Caesarion; Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Ceasar;vand as he was going to be someday, for our baby brother Ptolemy Philadelphus.

The man before us, was well build, with well developed muscles, as if he had spent his days in training, rather than in prayer. His face was rather young, for someone his age. Even though, hew was said to be a genius, that became the youngest High Priest in history. That was over 20 years ago. Nevertheless, Setna was the one, that instructed mother, on everything she knew about politics, economy, language & fighting, yet he still looked very handsome.

I remember at that moment, declaring: "He will be my husband!". At my declaration, mother and big brother burst out in laughter, while Helios got angry at Setna, and kicked him at the ankle. Since then, my twin brother always glared at our teacher. Our younger days, were truly wonderful.

Then, a year after our youngest brother, Ptolemy, began his own studies, tragedy befell our Great Empire of the Sun.

  Setna: "ALEXANDER! STOP TEASING YOUR SISTER!"

 Alexander: "Sorry, teacher!"-said, as he turned to his twin sister, and stuck out his tongue at her, while she did the same as well.

 The twin children of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, were now beginning their second year of studies, with High Priest Setna, as their teacher. He had also been, their big brother, Caesarion's teacher, before that. And though, Caesarion had already become a young man, he still regarded Setna's teachings, with the highest respect.

 Just then, a maid barged in their study hall.

 Maid: "Run! Run! The Romans are coming! The Romans are coming! The Queen is dead!"

 Setna: "Sister. Calm down! What's going on? Explain yourself! What happened to the Queen?"

 The maid took a deep breath, as Setna placed his arms on her shoulders, calming her down a little. She looked straight at him, as tears began to swell up, in her eyes. She began anew:

  Maid: "The Queen is dead! She killed herself with poison, before the Romans could grab a hold of her. They barged in, beyond the city gate. Her majesty's last words were: "Setna! Protect my children, as I have protected your secret!". Then she drank the poison, as the gates to her tomb, closed right in front of me!"

 Setna: "I see! Now! First thing's first! Where are Ptolemy and Caesarion?"

 Maid: "His highness Caesarion, already took young highness Ptolemy. They are waiting for their highnesses Alexander and Selene, at the stables!"

 Setna took a single glance at his young students, then turned to the maid, speaking in a language, not spoken by people of Egypt:

 Setna: "Is my nephew near?"

 Maid: "Yes. Eve is next to him, as always."

 Setna: "Lily, what is to become of my students? Are they...?"

 Maid/Lily: "Balaur says, they are to escape, but in order for them to live, Setna has to seize to be! Otherwise, the Romans won't stop chasing them!"

 Setna: "I see. So shall it be!"

 Selene watched, as her teacher and his maid, talked, in what she assumed, what was the secret language, of those serving in the temple of Thoth. She watched, as her tutor's expression, slowly changed. He glanced at her and her brother, with worry, before he relaxed. Then, without saying anything else, Setna took out from his bag, three almost identical rings. One had the image of a Sun, with a snake coming out of one end, encircling the finger, and ending at the other end of the Sun. The second ring, was almost the same, but with the image of the moon instead. The third, had an Ankh, with a snake intertwined. All 3 rings, were clearly made for a grown up. Setna kneeled in front of Selene, as he took her hand, and placed the ring with the crescent moon, on her ring finger, and said:

 Setna: "These rings, your majesties, were made with Thoth's magic, especially for each of her Majesty Cleopatra's children. They were meant to be your graduation gift."

 The rings in Setna's hands, were clearly made for adults, as soon as her ring encyrcled her finger, it suddenly was a perfect fit. While she was still marveling at her gift, Setna quickly placed Alexander's ring on his ring finger, and gave him the one meant for Ptolemy.

 Setna: "Little princess, Survive! Forget what was, and focus on what is! You have your brothers with you. Keep each other safe!"

 Selene, staring at Setna's eyes, gave him a big, tight hug, around his neck, before taking a deep breath, stopping her tears.

 Selene: "Yes teacher! You too. Stay safe. Let's meet again in the future!"

 Setna: "Um! Time will tell. Now go!"

 Maid/Lily: " The decoys are already in place! Now hurry young ones. There isn't much time. Are you ready master?"

 Setna: "Yes! Let the play begin!"

 While the maid was dragging the two children out of the study chamber, a "swoosh" sound came from behind Setna. When Selene turned around, she saw the red blood of her favorite teacher, flying everywhere, and him, lying on the floor. Behind him, the tall figure of "Blue Beard", stood with a blade in his hand, his face expressionless. Behind him, a young woman, clad in black leather, was handing him a cloth for his sword. Selene wanted to scream, but doing so, would only make their position known to the two assassins, which would break her promise. Instead, she kept quiet, as tears rolled down her young eyes.

 The maid's hand, felt oddly reassuring at that moment.

 Not long after, the twins reunited with their brothers. Heading to the boats, on the Nile river, Caesarion noticed they were being chased by the black cladded woman. The maid barely managed to push the boat into the river, when the black cladded assassin caught up with them.

 The last thing Selene saw, before her big brother covered her eyes, was the gentle figure of the maid, falling from the pier, into the waters of the Nile.

 Finally giving in to the stress, Selene bellowed, while being held, in Caesarion's arms.

 That was the first day, of their new life.

Her eyes snapped open.

Alex: "Sister?".

Selena: "I'm alright! Go back to sleep."

Alex:  "Are you alright?"

Selena: "Yeah! Just a nightmare. Don't worry!"

Alex: "Again? You haven't had them, since we were children. Is it the same one?"

Selena: "Yeah!"

Alex: "Hmph! Were you a princess again?"

Selena: "Yeah! And you were a Prince of a great Empire!"

Alex: "If only! Then I wouldn't have to shuffle manour every day!"

Phil: "Big brother? Big Sister? What are you two talking about?"

Alex: "About your sister's dream, of being a princess. Can you imagine it?"

Phil: "Sister? A princess? No way!"

Selena: "Hey!"

Alex: "What?"

Selena: "I could be!"

Phil: "You? The girl who just yeasterday, beat up two drunkards, twice her size!"

Alex: "You? The one known through out the region, as the" Man-slayer"! "

Cesar:" You? The same girl, who chased away all the suitable marriage partner from Petra? "

Selena:" Big brother? When did you wake up? "

Cesar:" Just now. Yawn! Well! Since we're all up, might as well, begin our day."

Alex: "Nooo! Too early!"

Cesar: "Then, GO back to sleep!" he grumbled, as he turned around, and tried to fall asleep again. He couldn't. Instead, his mind drifted, back to that faithfull day, his family lost everything. Luckily they were soon adopted, by a very independent, strong willed, couple of sisters.

 Since then, the four, adapted to the life of tavern keeping, in the busy city of Petra. The merchant's crossroads city, on the silk route. Renaming themselves, the siblings took in, to their new life. As they were too young, his 3 younger siblings, only viewed their past life, as nothing more, than a dream. However, Caesarion, being the oldest, didn't want to, or rather, couldn't forget his past. For he knew, that Augustus, wasn't going to seize his hunt, for Julius Caesar's, only legitimate heir.

 Often a times, Caesarion had thought about leaving his 3 younger siblings, as the only real danger to their lives, came from his proximity to them. However, wherever he would try to leave, one of his adoptive mothers, would beat him to a pulp, for abandoning them.

 Augustus wasn't a fool. He was well aware, that the children, currently raised by Mark Anthony's wife, were decoy's. And so was the boy, that had died, years before, by the hand of Blue Beard, in the stead of Caesarion.

 Seeing as how, leaving was not an option, Caesarion had resigned himself, to the life of an inn-keeper. But that didn't mean, he was going to leave his family defensless. For in the face of his new mothers, he found the thoughest, most skilled, merciless, combat teachers, he had ever come across. Not even the elite soldiers of the Royal Palace, could match the two. As such, his siblings grew up under their tutalage, to be as battle ready, as any old soldier. Though skilled, the four also had to keep their training a secret, from the city, for fear, of being recognized.

 Yet, when it came time for Selene's coming of age, suitors came rushing in, in hordes, competing for her hand in marriage. Although she was the adopted daughter of a mere inn-keepers, in the years that she had lived in Petra, theirs, had slowly become the richest inn in the city. Pretty much all of the men that came, were only interested in her money, and not her. Although she had grown up, to also be the prettiest, unmarried woman in Petra, her attitude towards the opposite sex, slowly changed with time. Because at first, she naively believed, that love, was what stood behind their words of flattery, in just a few months, she quickly understood the ugly truth of greed. As such, her anger took over, and Selene quickly disposed herself of the wanna be lovers.

 At the time, she was almost 16 years of age, but as time went on, she became, the so called "old maid". Afraid of her martial prowes, all men from Petra, single and married alike, feared her. And those visiting the city, unaware of her strenght, would often try to seduce her, only to end up in the gutter, beaten to a pulp.

 On just such a day, as she was throwing out another one of the, when from the shadows in the back alley, a faint grunt, came from an old man, with all white hair, long white beard,and face as smooth, as a baby's bottom, wearing nothing but rags.