A/N: Hello my readers! First and foremost I sincerely apologize for the wait, school has been extremely crazy and lately I do not have enough time to update (and when I do have time, I have no idea what to write about!) so please be passionate with me over the next couple of months, i'm trying to update as quickly as I can and when time permits, so please please please do not be upset with me. Secondly, thank you all for your amazing reviews! They are seriously the only things pushing me through this and keeping me motivated so thank you so very very much! Well, I am going to stop talking and let you get on to what you really want to do (which is read this chapter) so thank you all and please enjoy :)

Chapter 10: Leaving

Isadora's hands felt clammy and dry, which was unusual since Batiatus gave her a lotion that would keep her hands soft and gentle, that is how they should always be, he had said to her. Even though she put a descent amount on, they still felt harsh and laden. Her throat was dry, her heart pound in her chest like battle drums, booming away. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Legatus was to blame for her current state, and slightly herself as well. Saying words like freedom and liberty were dangerous in a ludus filled with nothing but slaves, punishment for even thinking it was horrible. So for Glaber to offer her freedom, under Batiatus' own home, was ludicrous. However, Isadora could not stop thinking about it. Freedom was just within arms reach, a word away, a step away. She could be free of the ludus, of Batiatus, of Ashur . . .of Spartacus.

"Do I want to give him up?" She said at the top of the stairs just before entering the ludus. "Am I willing to leave this place and leave him here to rot?" She clamped her hands together as a means to keep from shaking. Her emotions were scrambled together, she had no idea what to think. "Would he do the same if our roles had been reversed? If he had been offered freedom instead of I?' Isadora took a deep breath and counted to three. Once she reached three she was going to go down the stairs, where she knew Spartacus would be waiting. Once she counted to three she was going to tell him about the offer. Once she counted to three, the gears were going to be set in motion and she would see how the gladiator would react.

She went down the stairs and entered the ludus; the gate was still unlocked because late night training was going on, so she new Spartacus and every other gladiator would be down there. The moon was at it's highest point in the sky, which was when they decided to meet, as Isadora went to Spartacus' room. There was hardly anyone out there, so she figured that the training ended not to long ago and that everyone had retired to their appropriate rooms to sleep. She quickly scurried across the field and lightly knocked on his bedroom door. Seconds later it opened, slightly ajar with his figure obscuring the room. His chest rose as he smiled and took her hand, leading her in before closing the door behind him.

Isadora did not have much time to take the room in since Spartacus immediately bombarded her with kisses that she was hesitant to take.

"I've missed you." He said between kisses as he picked her up and pressed her up against the wall. Isadora kissed him back, enjoying the momentary pleasure, feeling his warm radiating skin under her hands. The moment intensified as the kiss depend, both battling for dominance the Isadora always gave into, and as Spartacus' hand traced back under her dress, receiving a moan in return. It wasn't until this moment that she started to push away: turning her head to the side, pressing her hands against his collar bone lightly, trying to speak.

"Spartacus, stop. I must tell you something." Isadora said, trying to hold back her sounds of pleasure as he continued his movements under her dress and kissing her neck.

"Can it not wait?"

"No." She managed to drag out.

"Just a moment longer." Spartacus bit the side of her neck and inserted another finger, which became a bit overwhelming for Isadora. She moaned out his name and clutched him, shaking from the touch. He captured her lips in his again, stifling her moans and winces of pain as he continued to add another, carefully stretching her out and preparing her. A shock of pressure came through her, pushing the Thracian back with her balled fists.

"I have been offered freedom!" Isadora blurted out. The room went still. The pressure stopped along with his fingers. She looked up at him, expression nervous and scared. "I have been offered freedom." She repeated. Spartacus' expression was a mirror of hers, confused, surprised, indecisive. She could hear him swallow hard as he remove his fingers and set her down on her feet. He took a step back.

"Apologeze." He said after a long moment of silence. "I do not know how to respond." Spartacus said honestly. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her. "You must be very important to Batiatus."

"It is not Batiatus who offered it to me." She replied.

His brows furrowed together and his eyes narrowed at her. "Then who?"

"Claudius Glaber." Spartacus momentarily stopped breathing, his eyes searching randomly in a frenzy. Isadora could not imagine where his thoughts were, since she had no idea who the man was until then. His lips curled into a snarl as breath returned to him and began stuttering in a fit of outrage.

"G-G-Glaber?" The Thracian slammed his fist against the wall, directly nest to Isadora's head. She shriveled underneath his body, which seemed so massive and overpowering at the time. "Have you any idea, what he has done to me?"

"N-no." Her voice was a whisper. Spartacus struggled to control his tone.; it was not her fault that Glaber approached her with the proposition. Spartacus took a deep breath and steadied himself.

"He is the reason I am here." He replied. She looked up at him, her eyes wide.

"I did not know," She bit her bottom lip in confusion. There was silence as both soaked in the new information. Isadora was completely unaware that Spartacus' current position was do to the man that offered her freedom. But now she knew that both men despised each other from his reaction and that the situation was for more complicated than she could ever imagine.

"I do not want you near him." Spartacus spoke gently, breaking the silence. "Glaber cannot be trusted."

"You are asking me to give up this opportunity." Isadora replied, looking up at him. Spartacus cupped her face in his hand softly.

"I do not want to see you harmed."

"Well tell me, what would you do? What would you do if you had been offered freedom instead of I?" Isadora asked. Spartacus thought for a moment.

"I cannot answer that." He said, removing his hand and looking at the ground.

"And neither could I." Isadora grasped his chin in her hand and forced him to look at her. "It does not matter who presents the offer, Spartacus. The fact is, the offer was presented. Now what are we to do?" Her voice was low and soft as she spoke. Spartacus thought, looking around the room then meeting her eyes. Taking her hands in his he spoke:

"To ask you to stay would be selfish."

"No it wouldn't." Isadora gripped his hands.

"Yes it would," He paused, taking a deep breath. "You will take his offer and be free of these walls that contain you. I would rather see you out there: in the city, among people, living life and knowing that the Gods have blessed you, than being locked in here, with nothing but animals at every turn waiting for you."

"The city is only a larger ludus, Spartacus. With just as many animals . . .and you not being there to protect me." Isadora kissed the back of his hand.

"Do as I say, Isadora." Spartacus let go of her hands and embraced her mightily. "You will be cared for better than here, you will live a life that you deserve, and I will find comfort knowing that you are no longer in this wretched place."

"Am I not replacing one evil for another?" Isadora asked, her voice muffled against his chest.

The Next Day:

Spartacus dug his nail into the tarnished wood of the table, listening to the clamor training at hand. His mind was everywhere except in his head; what we he supposed to do? Isadora had been given an opportunity, one that never came around in the ludus, even to the most respected and trusted slaves like Doctore. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his chest rising and falling like the shape of a mountain.

"This is strange." Varro observed, with the same smile on his face like any other day. He sat across from Spartacus at the table and gestured at his nail digging into the wood. "Are you that bored with this Champion?" He chuckled and adjusted in the seat. When Spartacus did not reply, he waved his hand in front of him. "Hello?"

Spartacus looked at him for the first time and clamped both his hands together on the table. "Varro," he started. "I did not see you here."

"Really? So this entire time I have been talking to myself?" He laughed. Spartacus did not laugh. Varro recognized his distraught expression immediately and sighed. There could only be one source of his distraction.

"What has she done now?" He leaned back slightly, waiting to hear what his friend was about to say. Spartacus paused before he spoke.

"She is leaving." He said simply. Varro stifled a laugh in leaned in closer to Spartacus.

"I would hardly call going out to market as leaving, Spartacus." He patted his shoulder and prepared to stand up, but stopped when Spartacus spoke again:

"She has been offered freedom . . .by Glaber." Varro's breath caught in his throat, thinking about what he just said. He sat back down, carefully, and lowered his voice to a whisper.

"How?"

"I do not know."

"Glaber?" Varro couldn't grasp the idea. "but why not Batiatus? How would Glaber even hear about Isadora?"

"That is unknown to me as well."

"What are you going to do? Have you shared words?"

"Yes." Spartacus ran his hands across his face and looked at his friend. "I told her to go; to ask her to stay would have been selfish."

"But now she is leaving you for Glaber." Varro stated. Spartacus slammed his hand on the table and glared at him.

"No she is not. She is leaving for freedom, not for him."

"What does it matter?" Varro narrowed his eyes at him. "Either way she will no longer be within your grasp." He chided him. "I understand that it is a difficult position be in-"

"You cannot even begin to understand." The Thracian hissed, his hands clenching into fists.

"You're right, even so, it is difficult position to be in, there is nothing you can do." Varro moved in closer, lowering his voice. "And you know Glaber, he will take what he wants without anyone's permission. Not to mention if this, giving Isadora to the Legatus, gets Batiatus on good terms with him, do you think he will not hesitate to hand her over?"

The Next Day:

"Legatus!" Batiatus raised his hands in the air at Glabers' sudden reappearance. "Two appearances in only a week, you honor me with your presence." He bowed slightly to the man.

"I did not come here for you, Batiatus." Glaber replied harshly. The smile on the Lanistas' face disappeared, replaced with a grim, down turned frown. At that moment Batiatus realized just how much he hated Glaber. Every moment with him was filled with detest and a means for some sort of gain. Not to mention the constant insults and badgering he received from the arrogantly titled man that made him to unleash his over enthusiastic fury on him; however, Batiatus knew that one day the Legatus would get what was coming to him. Batiatus swallowed hard, masking his disdain, and folded his hands in front of him.

"Then what, may I ask, brings us the pleasure of your company?"

"Isadora." Glaber said. The room went quite. The servants shared glances with each other, Lucretia, who was standing next to her husband, slightly nudged him, and Ashur, who stood behind Batiatus, cleared his throat.

"Isadora?" Batiatus asked. "For what reason?" Glaber ignored the question and walked passed them, leading himself into the villa. Batiatus followed briskly behind him, trying to remain calm in the confusing and frustrating situation.

"Isadora will be leaving with me today," Glaber spoke as we walked. "I want her found and brought here now."

"For what purpose?" Batiatus struggled to keep his cool. "Isadora is one of my best servants if not most respected in the entire ludus, what business do you have with her?"

"That is none of your concern." Glaber said.

"There you are wrong," Batiatus grabbed him by the shoulder, stopping him and turning the Legatus to face him. "She is my-"

Glaber stepped to him quickly, his face a few inches from Batiatus. "Know your place Lanista." He sneered. "If you wish to continue training these animals for a living and enjoying the spoils of your wealth, then I suggest you hand her over. . .now." Batiatus swallowed hard again. He knew better than to make enemies with Claudius Glaber, but reluctantly surrendered to the man. He gestured to Ashur.

"Bring her up."

"I do not know when you shall see me again." Isadora looked down at their intertwined fingers, trying to put the rough feel of his hand to memory. She knew that Glaber was coming, it was only a matter of when. Her heart pound in her chest like a stampede of rampaging animals, her throat was dry and she felt extremely parched. The fear of the unknown gripped her as she tried to grasp onto what little sanity she had left, Spartacus being the only thing keeping her from falling down.

"Soon." Spartacus soothed her, running the back of his free hand down the length of her face. "Soon." Both took a deep breath in unison, trying to relax and relish the moment.

"I will come back for you." Isadora spoke. "I will. If you do not become free, I will get money and buy you from Batiatus."

"Shh, do not say such things." Spartacus embraced her, gripping her close to him. "You will do not such thing."

"I will," Isadora looked at him. "Who are you to tell me I cannot?" Spartacus smiled at her and rolled his eyes. That was the Isadora he knew. He gripped her tighter than carefully released her, sharing a passionate kiss that was exciting and heart-breaking at the same time; both of them knew it was a good-bye kiss, and that there was a very good chance they would never see each other again, but neither said it out loud.

Footsteps were heard, descending the ludus stairs. This kiss ended to quickly and Spartacus was gone as quickly, leaving Isadora alone by the wine jugs, feeling the extremely cold air against her skin. She looked up and saw Ashur, giving her a slow once over with a smirk.

"Follow me." He said.

Glaber crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Isadora, she was undeniably a sight, but he knew there was much more to her than that. He knew, from their last conversation, that she was very incisive, and wise beyond her years. She had an open mind and was perceptive to everything around her. For some reason he felt that she would make a good wife, not to him of course since he had Ilithyia, but perhaps to a general, or someone with a high status in the military. He pushed the thought aside and decided to save it for another day.

"Isadora, have you thought about my proposition?" He asked.

"Yes." She replied as if nothing was wrong.

"And?"

"I will go with you." A small smile of satisfaction crawled on his lips as he held his hand out to her. Slowly, and with reluctance he noticed, Isadora took his hand and stood next to him, still holding it. Glaber then brought his attention to Batiatus, who struggled to hide his glare of hatred.

"Batiatus, pleasure doing business with you." He said in a sarcastic tone. When the Lanista did no reply, Glaber smirked and turned around, Isadora by his side.

Isadora exited the villa, the first time in a while since she left, and was blinded by the sun. Glaber hoisted himself up on a large horse and lent his hand out to her. She took it and with the help of one of his servants, got on the horse, sitting sideways, both legs dangling over one side of the steed. She wrapped her arms around his waist, a gesture she hated to have to do, and sat close behind him on the saddle. At that moment Glaber said something to Batiatus and his wife; however, she did not pay attention for Ashur exited the villa and looked up at her with a conniving and scheming expression with the most intimidating grin that made her breath catch in her chest.

A/N: I really hope you liked this one, I'll update as soon as I can, and please continue showing your support and reviewing. Thank you XD