Scared was not the correct term to what I was currently feeling.

Terrified. Petrified. Lost. Those were more accurate.

I stood in line with about five other women. Dirt-stained rags hardly covered their bodies and left little to the imagination, although I suppose that was the idea. To present us not as human beings but as objects, offering our labor, undying loyalty, our bodies, and our very lives. I frowned in distaste but quickly returned to my emotionless mask. My dress, or rather what was left of it, was torn at the abdomen, exposing my flat stomach. Several scratches littered my tan skin and my lip had the remains of a scar from where one of the slave traders had beat me for being defiant. Defiant. The word alone brought the tiniest of smirks to my pink lips. My long dark brown hair cascaded to my lower back, my golden brown eyes seemingly blank but secretly filled with worry and uncertainty. I tried ignoring the sounds of the names being called, tried remaining optimistic and to hold on to the tiny bit of hope still remaining in me. 'I'll survive, I'll make it out of here. I shall return home somehow. I must get through this, I musn't lose hope. I must be strong,' I thought to myself.

''Cassia.''

I winced at the sound of my name. I stepped forward, presenting myself. I looked the middle aged man in the eyes and bit back the glare I so deperately wanted to give him. He looked me over slowly, inspecting me.

''You are truly blessed by Venus, are you not?'' he grinned slightly.

I remained silent, annoying the man apparently.

''Speak child!'' he commanded.

''What am I to say?'' I asked calmly.

He appeared taken back by my calmness, not angered but simply perplexed at my calm and soothing voice.

''Where are you from girl?'' he asked, seemingly to be genuinely interested.

''Thrace,'' I answered.

The fiery haired woman beside him seemed to perk up at the sound of my homeland.

''Batiatus, perhaps she can tame the Thracian,'' she whispered not too loudly.

My eyes widened at the idea of being a whore to some lowly beast of a man. The man I know knew to be Batiatus nodded and waved her off. His eyes locked mine.

''Have you any talents, Cassia?'' I was shocked to hear him use my birth name, and slightly relieved. My name was all I had left of my former life and I truly did not wish to lose it to some slave name.

''Would you like me to demonstrate?'' I asked, unsure of what to call him.

He quirked a brow and smirked, most likely assuming I would pleasure him. He nodded casually. I smirked. In a flash I kicked the guard next to me, swinging my leg underneath him to cause him to fall on to his back. His sword fell with a metal clank and I quickly picked it up, holding it to his neck. The other guard in the room ran towards me, sword raised. I swung back around, our swords clashing. The other women gasped and cried out in fear and shock. Batiatus leaned at the edge of his chair, completely shocked and caught up in my ''demonstration''. My arms worked skillfully, fending off the large guard fairly easily. Suddenly, I delivered a powerful kick to his stomach, sending him to the ground with an impressive thud. Once again, I pressed the sword to the guards neck. Then silence.

Batiatus' clapping caused me to snap out of it and turn my head back to him.

''I do believe we are done here,'' he said to the slave trader.

''You shall become my female gladiator, understood? You shall fight only partial and serve me like the other women and I shall be your Dominus,'' he grinned.

I had no choice in the matter so I simply nodded. ''Yes Dominus,'' I answerred. He turned back to his wife. ''Lucretia have Naevia clean Cassia up, then have her escort her to meet the gladiators,'' he ordered.

''Yes husband,'' she said.

Her eyes looked me over. She then locked gaze with me. She offered a small smile, to which I simply stared curiously at her. In all truth, she intimidated me. And rightfully so.

''You shall be quite beneficial to my husband and I,'' she said quietly.

I quirked a brow at her but knew better not to comment.

''Naevia,'' she called.

A darker-skinned woman walked into the room. She seemed quiet and fragile but beautiful all the same.

''Yes Domina?'' Naevia answered.

''Wash up our newest treausre, then take her to meet the gladiators,'' Lucretia ordered.

''Yes Domina,'' she bowed her head in submission.

Our eyes met and she offered me a small smile. I returned it, feeling like I could use a friend in this new prison. I then turned my attention back to Lucretia who smiled approvingly down at me.

''I shall see you soon, Cassia,'' she said.

''Yes Domina,'' I answered obediantly. Then I turned on my heel and exited the room with Naevia.

''Forgive me for asking, but are you to pleasure the gladiators?'' she asked meekly.

My face scrunched up in disgust at the thought. ''Hopefully not. Dominus only said I was to be his servant and she-gladiator,'' I explained.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

''You are a gladiator?'' she asked.

''Apparently so.''

''I wish you luck in the ring,'' she said, making me smile at her.

''I am not afraid to die Naevia. I don't think about death,'' I told her truthfully.

''Still, the beasts out there are ruthless. All they care about is their freedom, understandably, but they will kill anyone who stands in the way of their glory.''

Glory. I smirked to myself when Naevia said the word.

''Let me in the ring, I'll show them what that word means.''

If only I had known what was in store for me in the very near future.