Cleopatra ~by Alex CG

~ Rome ~

After many long weeks at sea surviving the rough waves and limited food, we finally arrived at Rome. We were welcomed with wide arms and a buffet in our honor. After dinner, I went up to my room and waited for the sun to set behind the horizon. As I peered out of the window, I saw a shadow zoom past. I crept down the stairs and out the door, only to find that familiar shadow peeking back at me.


As I peered across the empty field, a handsome figure watched. When our eyes met and locked, I knew that I had found my true love. For a moment I was afraid to move because I didn't want to ruin the trance that held us both still. I took a deep breath and begged my feet to move forward. Slowly, I crept toward him. In a flash, he disappeared behind a corner. "Stop!" I screamed, but he was already gone. For the rest of the night, I thought about my love.


The next day Ceaser invited me and my father to watch him in court. The way he argued the case was inspiring. When it was the other man's turn to speak, I looked up wearily, only to see the man from the field staring back at me with loving eyes. The only way I recognized him was his light brown, mesmorizing eyes. He was presented as Mark Antony.


Fury raged inside me. I had seen this man before walking the streets. But I'd never looked into his eyes, or heard his embracing voice. I studied the man for whom Antony was presenting. He had cropped black hair. He was rather scrawny and had a tired look on his face. I felt a singe of pity for the man. If Ceaser won, he would lose his land. He would lose everything. As I was trying to organize my thoughts, I was distracted by a distant clatter. Curiosity took over my body. I quietly got up, using the excuse that I had to go to the bathroom, to avoid tipping off the guards.


I snuck around the hallway, trying to locate the noise. Then I heard an ear-riping screech of terror. I stumbled over my feet as I dashed for the door. It seemed to be coming from the kitchen. As I flung open the door, I saw a small orange kitten being trapped by a large chef with a rusty, old butcher knife. "What are you doing?" I screamed in astonishment.
The man moved his mouth in a way as if he were about to yell at me, but quickly changed his expression when he saw who was talking. He seemed to be in pain. He answered with a tired and miserable voice, "This is my cat. I can't afford to keep him anymore, and my boss won't let me keep feeding him food from the kitchen. I would like more than anything to let this kitten live his long happy life."
"I'll buy him from you!" I screamed, my voice still singed with shock. Because we were in Rome, he obviously didn't understand the importance of cats. For in Egypt, they represented the goddess Bastet. She was the protector of women and kids.
We both just stood there for a while. Then he looked up and said, "You do not have to pay me if you give Aro a good home."


I crept back to the courtroom holding Aro, just in time to catch the final decision. Ceaser had won. As they were getting ready to leave, Aro leaped out of my hand and meowed. Antony turned to pet the kitten. When he saw me behind him, he smiled and said, "Hello." For a while we talked about Aro. But then he asked me if I wanted to take a tour around town with him tomorrow. I almost immediately said, "Yes."
We spent every day together from that moment on. After each day, we became closer. After a few years, we decided to get married. Everything was going perfectly until my father became very ill. We knew he was dying, but we did not know what to do. Then we heard a meow. When we turned around, Aro was standing on a map of Eygpt. It was a sign, so we decided to move to Egypt to be closer to my father.

~ Egypt ~
While we were in Egypt, we had many beautiful children and forgot about the problems in Rome. Our lives in Egypt were carefree until Ceaser found out that Antony had given much of the land once ruled by Alexander The Great to my family. Ceaser became so angry he declared war against Egypt. Antony knew this was his fault so he decided to lead the war against Rome defending Egypt. I felt it was my duty to go and fight alongside him, but the people couldn't risk losing their last pharaoh. I was forbidden to go.
Days later, the Egyptian army returned with less soldiers than they left with. They returned to recriut more soldiers and gather more supplies and food. They had lost the first battle, but the war still raged on. I begged Antony not to return. I begged, "Just let the soldiers go! Stay with me." But, he wouldn't listen. Days later they had lost yet another battle. Caesar had passed through our defenses. And Antony had retreated home. Caesar was chasing after him. Antony did not want Caesar threatening my life, so he returned to battle to keep Caesar from storming the pyramids. Knowing that Caesar would not stop until we were dead, I came up with a plan.

~ Cleopatra's Plan ~

I called my loyal servant Eva into my chambers, I told her everything. She knew that Egypt was at stake. I asked of her a favor. I told her to tell everyone I was dead. I told her it was the best thing for Egypt, but really I knew I was only thinking of my family. Within days, Eva had done her job. Messengers had spread the word throughout Egypt and almost everyone had heard of my fake death. As the rumors continued to spread, I went into hiding. I waited for Caesar to find out and return to Rome, I didn't expect Antony to find out first.

~ Anthony ~

Antony's heart was filled sorrow when he heard the news. He jumped on his horse and raced for home. He had to see Cleopatra's body to believe this news. It couldn't believe it. As he rode, the only person that he could think of was Cleopatra. I cannot survive without her! We must be together, he thought. He was determined to make that happen again. With a broken heart and thoughts filled with the love of his life, he plunged the knife into his stomach. He closed his eyes and fell to the floor.



He opened his eyes when he heard a meow and felt a tongue as rough as sandpaper move across his cheek. Aro was standing above him. he looked up and found Cleopatra; she was still alive. My heart lept with joy, as I took my final breaths. Cleopatra fell to her knees and drew my head into her lap. My eyes closed as she wept.





~ Cleopatra ~

Cleopatra knew she couldn't live without him. As his eyes closed and his heart stopped, so did mine. I took a deep breath and reviewed his last words over and over again. He said, "Do not weep over my present pain, rejoice in our past happiness. I loved you with all my heart." How could I rejoice when Antony was dead? How could I rejoice when Caesar was coming after me? How could I live without the love of my life? This thought was unbearable.



Again I called Eva into my room. '




I told her to go to Puho and retrieve an Asp. The Asp was the Egyptian cobra. One bite and I would be with Antony again. Every second I wasn't with Antony was tearing apart my heart. Then, Eva came silently through the door. I knew she was depressed, but she had to understand that I just couldn't live without him. She returned, carrying a basket. Inside I could hear the slither from the cobra, and it made my skin crawl. She set it down next to me. I carefully lifted the lid and the Asp flew out, but before it could touch me, Aro leaped in front of it and began hissing and clawing at its neck. I cried, "Aro! Get away from it!" He wouldn't listen. He was trying to save my life. The asp struck at him, sinking his fangs into my poor cat's neck. I screamed, "No!" It was too late. Everything I loved was dead now. Broken hearted, I looked into the eyes of the asp and silently begged for my release.

By ~ Alex C-G