Rio stared at her enemy in shock. "I was going to come back, really; I was! I just never got the chance."

"You never got the chance." The man rolled his eyes. "Believe that if you want. It's just a pity you didn't get your chance before it was too late."

"Too late? What do you mean?"

"Your brother was very amusing to torment- for a while. But then Emperor Domitian got tired of him. You should have heard your beloved twin's screams. No one survives one hundred lashes on the bare back, princess."

"No!" Rio cried. "No! You're lying!"

"Oh, but I'm not. I have proof." He reached into his coat pocket, torturously taking his time, and produced something small and shiny.

Rio could feel herself trembling. In the fiend's palm was a platinum ring, identical to her own. He dropped it into her shaking hand, and she sank to her knees, cradling all that was left of her beloved brother to her chest.

"Crown Prince Nash truly loved you, his sister." The man sneered. "He died a horrible death for you. It's too bad you weren't willing to do the same for him."

Oh no, say it isn't so! The only way to find out will be to read A Tale of Two Slaves: Part 3: Death.