Disclaimer & Notices

Please see Chapter 1 for disclaimers and notices.

Started: July 14, 2009


Lost in the Past

by Red Hope

Chapter 1

"Careful, ma'am," the male slave told his mistress. He was guiding her through the busy aisle to her purchased seat. "He awaits you here." He ducked around another patron then stood on the last stone step by the rail. He held out his right hand to both the seat and suitor.

The mistress came down the last step and briefly held her slave's eyes. "Thank you, Britanicus." She watched him slip past then she warmly smiled at her suitor, who had stood up earlier.

The suitor, Publius Cornelius Scipio, was about to greet his guest, but he fell short due to the loud eruption of cheers all around the massive, stone structure. He just held a smile and waited until the roars lowered to a manageable din. He then held out his hand and stole a moment to admire the woman's elegant beauty.

The woman had rich olive skin and midnight hair that gave away her heritage from across the Ionian Sea. Her wavy hair was pinned high up in a bun but loose strands caressed her shoulders. Her white Doric chiton tied by a gold belt also spoke of her old legacy, and it revealed her curvy hips, her alluring cleavage, and left her arms exposed. She also wore a stunning gold necklace that most likely was passed down through her family. She lifted her right hand and placed it in her suitor's larger hand.

Cornelius smoothly greeted, "It is a pleasure to have this afternoon with you, Stagira." He placed a light kiss to the right of her knuckle, just beside her gold ring that depicted a male's cameo. He straightened up and now indicated the open seats to his right. "Please sit with me."

Stagira allowed her suitor to go first then she took the end seat beside him. She waited for the hard seat to warm under her, but meanwhile she gazed far past the stone rail and down to the sandy field below. Just as she took in the battle, there was another eruption of cheers and cries from the crowd. She slightly flinched because the rumbles were almost too loud for her.

Cornelius leaned closer to his courtship interest and mentioned, "This is the famous gladiatrix." He looked Stagira. "Perhaps you have heard of her?"

Stagira didn't immediately reply because she was fixated on the gladiatrix, who fought two male counterparts with only a xiphos, aspis, and bronze armor. She distantly answered, "Yes... I have heard of her."

Cornelius now regarded the gladiatrix but still spoke to Stagira. "They say she's a demi-god but what demi-god would allow herself to become a slave or succumb to the amphitheater?"

Stagira heard such rumors about the famous gladiatrix. It was never proven or disproved that the gladiatrix was a demi-god, but many swore by it. She noticed that the gladiatrix wore unusual attire compared to her counterparts. She curiously commented, "Her attire is familiar."

"It should be." Cornelius looked at the middle-aged woman and explained, "She is a breed of gladiator called a Hoplomachus." He tiled his head at Stagira's obvious interest in the gladiatrix. "She is from your homeland."

Stagira was intrigued and continued watching the popular gladiatrix. She hadn't come to the amphitheater in some time because she often strayed from it. But today she couldn't ignore her suitor's request so she'd come for the munera. Despite her disdain for the munera, she was captivated by the gladiatrix's skill and prowess as a fighter in the amphitheater.

Down in the sandy arena, the gladiatrix spun her xiphos and suddenly charged her two enemies, who were both Thraex gladiators. She used her round shield to harshly slam the male gladiators. She sent them flying for several paces, and she positioned her shield off to her left side. She stood tall, battle-ready, and her sword diagonally before her.

The Thracian gladiators climbed to their feet and the right one found his rectangular shield was broken in half by the gladiatrix's earlier charge. He tossed it aside then glanced at his comrade. He signaled for him to encircle their enemy.

The gladiatrix wore a bronze Chalcidian helmet, which gave her better hearing and visual than most helmets she'd dealt with in the past. She easily targeted the shielded gladiator in front of her, but she lost visual of the unshielded gladiator going behind her. Despite she couldn't see him, she knew his exact location and was not concerned.

Suddenly the shielded gladiator gave a brisk cry then charged his enemy.

The gladiatrix was prepared, and she dropped to her right knee just in time. Her shiny bronze greave dug into the sand just as the shielded gladiator was upon her. She made instant calculations because she detected the unshielded gladiator charged her from behind.

The shielded gladiator didn't expect the gladiatrix to handle the incredible power behind his ram. He gave a sharp cry out of surprise when he collided into what felt like a stone wall. He then lost track of the world that spun out of control.

The gladiatrix had braced herself for impact and used her shield for defense this time. Then her ears rung from the loud explosion between their shields. She then gave a war cry and used her sturdy shield to heft the large gladiator upwards and overhead.

The unshielded gladiator had raised his sword and was prepared to cut down the Hoplomachus gladiatrix in a single swipe. But he stumbled upon seeing his comrade's glinting body come flying at him. He barely gave a cry before he was struck hard to the ground.

The gladiatrix spun around on her boots and rose up with her short sword called a xiphos pointed at her enemies. She glanced at her aspis, which was now badly cracked due to the collision between her and the earlier gladiator. She growled, reached over, and tore the leather bands that anchored the shield to her left arm. She focused back on her opponents, who were staggering to their feet.

The unshielded Thracian gladiator was last on his feet and turned his head sidelong to the gladiatrix. But he was lost to his immediate surroundings, and he missed out on his partner's warning. Suddenly he was struck by the gladiatrix's flying shield that accurately hit his head. He struck the sand, which promptly turned red all around his broken skull.

The last gladiator glanced at his dead partner then quickly turned his attention to the gladiatrix. He raised his sword and took a step back. He couldn't comprehend how the woman threw the aspis so hard and fast. But indeed he too had heard rumors that the gladiatrix was not a regular mortal. He thought it a lie, until now.

The Hoplomachus had a thin sheen of sweat over her tanned skin. Her brown eyes were almost as bright as her bronze breastplate armor. She raised her xiphos and silently commanded her enemy to attack her.

The shaken gladiator wasn't tempted by the gladiatrix's offer, but his ears rung from the crowd's yells. He scanned the patrons' faces that were aligned with him. He was breathing hard and his grip on his sword's handle was tight. He couldn't control his raging heart, which skipped a beat when he looked at the Hoplomachus again.

The gladiatrix approached her enemy in a determined manner.

The Thraex gladiator lifted his sword now and steeled his fears. He mentally told himself that the gladiatrix was not a demi-god and that she could be harmed. He readied himself and cried out once the gladiatrix was in proximity. His sword connected with his opponent's xiphos.

The gladiatrix parried a few of the gladiator's attacks then she ducked past an overhead swipe. Then she sensed his left arm moving with the cracked rectangular shield. She already knew his plan so she quickly caught the charging shield into her left palm, which caused an echoing smack.

The Thracian gladiator was stunned and tried jerking his shield free from her grasp. But his attempt was futile so he brought his sword around and caught her left arm.

The gladiatrix wasn't slowed by the wound to her left arm. She didn't want to lose his shield and now dropped her xiphos to the ground. She latched onto the rectangular shield with both hands then dug her feet into the sand for support. She easily swung her enemy and threw him across the arena.

The gladiator screamed in midair, dropped his sword, and hit the arena's stone wall. He collapsed into a heap in the sand, against the wall. His breathing was rasped, his eyes unfocused, and his expression lost.

The Hoplomachus collected her short sword and marched across the arena to her enemy. Despite it only took her a few hundred paces, it seemed longer and her heart pounded wildly like the crowd's feverish yells. She saw her patrons giving her countless thumbs downs, and she understood the great demand. She would fulfill it, like always.

The gladiator sat like a lifeless doll against the stone. He tilted his head back when the gladiatrix towered over him. He looked up into lifeless eyes that only promised him freedom. He dug his right hand into the sand and waited for fate.

The gladiatrix spun her sword until the tip pointed downward. She lifted her xiphos up with both hands around the hilt. She paused and listened to the spectators' shouts that fueled her mission. She then drove the pointed blade down at the gladiator's head. She was briefly sprayed by blood over her breastplate then the roar became greater like a tidal wave.

After several moments, the gladiatrix tore her sword out of the enemy's head, and she watched him slump down to the sand. She wiped her blade clean on his leather padded shoulder then walked away to the arena's center. Once there, she found that many spectators were on their feet and applauded her victory. She gathered herself physically in a deep breath that somewhat calmed her charged body. She then reached up with both hands, her xiphos locked in her right hand, and she removed her bronze helmet.

The crowd cheered louder upon seeing the gladiatrix's beautiful face that was mauled by only a scar on her right temple. Her honey-brown hair fell down and framed her hardened face. She stood tall and proud despite the bloody legacy she held on her shoulders. She was well toned with visible muscles now showing since her shield was lost. She was bright from her shining bronze armor and red tunic that the best hoplite would have adorned in Greece.

Out of the many cheering spectators, there was one woman who didn't cheer or cry out like a maddened fan. Stagira only watched the gladiatrix in silence, but her green eyes were lively with intrigue. She slightly broke from her stare and turned to her suitor. "Does the gladiatrix have a name?"

Cornelius blinked and looked at the wealthy woman seated beside him. "Yes," he answered, "and it's said that it's the only thing she's ever spoken."

Stagira had a wrinkled brow, yet she prompted, "What is it?"

Cornelius was surprised that Stagira didn't know the famous gladiatrix's name. In his heavy voice, he simply stated, "Cameron."

To be continued.