16.1 It became clear that Marcus was right. In the coming years there was a great fire in Rome. It killed more people than I ever could. There were rumours of what had started the fire. If true, if the blame lay at the hands of the emperor himself. How could I be the monster?

12.1 I’d begun to find joy again. Claudia looked at me with admiration. When hunting criminals, I didn’t feel like the monster I’d come to identify myself with. What we were doing might be vile and in ways cruel. Those hurt by our actions were all bad people. I try to remember that.

6.1 I found a form of life that worked for me. It’s a pale version of what life could be, but I saw no other options. I spent days in self loathing and hatred for what I’d become. Only seldom I left my house. When I did the goal was to find criminals to feed on.