Another day. Lucinda sat in front of the dresser mirro -  she adjusted her veil. Not quite right. She tilted it. Perhaps,  the design. Some small changes. There was no time. It had to do.   As Lucinda  critisized the veil in the mirror.  Donnabella practiced her water dance. From the bath, the sound of rain drops came through the air.  Then door's  bell overcame all other sounds. . Lucinda adjusted her veil one last time and then moved to  the velvet chair - in front of the door. She crossed her legs and said calmly

"Come in, the door’s open"

Through the door walked Athena. Jewels tightly curled into her hair. Nails polished, all undone with a simple white toga. Athena, curiously critical,  glanced at Lucinda, now well hidden underneath her veil.

"Oh, I stopped by. To see my sister/"

Lucinda spoke curtly  "She’s bathing"

Athena responded kindly  "My sister. I don’t know how she does it. Everyday, she brings the water from the river. Heats it and takes a bath. Why they haven’t connected the aqueducts to this part of the palace, I don’t know."

Lucinda paused with thought. "Yes, How does she do it?"

The swinging doors to the bath opened. Donnabella’s gaze focused on Lucinda’s veil, then her sister.

"Oh Athena. So glad to see you."

Athena gave Lucinda a skewed glance "Likewise, who is your friend?"

Lucinda interrupted " I’m the Goddess of the Rain. From eastern Rome."

Donnabella apologized "She’s from the theater."

Athena mildly distracted, let go of herself " I had to tell somebody. Nero’s gone to Greece."

Donnabella "And Why?"

Athena started to cry "To be married. I don’t understand. The jewels. The silk dresses. The servants. A peasant girl from Greece. You know what will happen to me, don’t you?"

Donnabella, "Yes. mother and father counted on this. I won’t tell them. Rome won’t tolerate it."

With one kind  thought left for Donnabella,  Lucinda let out.

"Tears, tears and more tears. A river of tears. Rome had been warned. But it didn’t listen. The river of tears overflowed the banks and flooded the town. But Rome had no tears. No tears for those it conquered and no tears for itself."

Both Donnabella and Athena looked for  Lucinda underneath her veil, but they could not see one emotion. Athena was now angry, very angry.

"And who have you brought to your home this time, Donnabella, who?  I’m tired of it! That’s why, isn’t it?. That’s why Nero's  gone. Tired of you, Donnabella. You have cost me my love, a fortune in jewels and ruined our  family’s reputation."

Donnabella glared at Lucinda  "Now little sweet heart, how many time have I told you. Practice your lines alone!  ---- Athena, she’s in the theater and just 13.! She’s practiced that line all morning. It’s a famous line from a play."

Athena "Who would allow such lines? This is Rome. Not France."

Donnabella continued "She won’t be in the play. She wasn’t accepted. She leaves this afternoon."

Underneath the veil, Lucinda seethed. She didn’t need the Thought Box to hate Athena.