Everyday for the last week I had found myself standing near Titus body. Everyday my mind and thoughts consumed by the what if I hadn't left his side as asked. What if Melitta brought me with her would I also we dead as she? Gannicus had tried for more than five days to get my attention, tried to pass words to me through various slaves. His words fell on deaf ears, I don't know why I had felt such a strong feeling of betrayal. Was it because I had lost my innocents due to protecting Melitta only to have her be brought into it anyway.
"He was a treasure to us all." I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned to see Dominus behind me alone. "Apologies Dominus for not attending to my tasks."
He let out a sigh, "If your only tasks as of late are staying by my side and attending me. You are currently doing do." I nodded as he tried to smile.
"He loved you like family." He muttered to me.
"As, I loved him as a father. You and Domina are my family now, which is why the choice I made was such a simple one. I have no desire to leave this house any longer. Not that I had ever to begin with." I told him with a sigh my eyes still on Titus as he lay there before me.
Skin pale and grey, he was so still and unmoving. Such an odd way to ever see the man whom I'd never known to sit still. "When you are ready tonight, before you leave to sleep we will make sure you get the mark on you shoulder." He told me.
"Gratitude." I told him as I felt his presence was moved from me.
It was two nights ago when I spoke to Quintus about becoming a slave, he seemed weary of allowing me to even become one which left me thinking Titus and I were wrong about them forcing me into the position. He had asked me to allow him to think about the decision giving me a night for him to ponder over it. He told me he would allow me to receive the mark on the condition that I would take over to Santos his father's body slave. Which I had accepted likely, accepted foolishly.
I looked over to see that he had not left only moved over from me to do as I was, staring intently at the man we both once looked to for guidance. Naevia and I had both been adorning black robes for the last week he never leaving Domina's side once much like myself not having left Dominus. "It is a heavy thing… seeing a father, so strong in life, unable to ride." The magistrate spoke as he moved between myself and Dominus.
"The weight of it keenly felt." Dominus told him motioning for me to move behind him, nodding I took the few steps. "Titus was much loved by this city. Hold comfort in the knowledge." He said as he then walked away leaving me alone with Dominus.
He just looked at me, as Domina soon followed in standing on his other side; "The magistrate himself pays respect?" She asked him. "It's a great honor."
"For my father." He responded to her coldly. "Years I wished for blistering tongue to cool. Only to long for it to scorch ear once more."
"I know you did not wish him gone in such a manner. Nor did I, despite our many differences. Yet the gods have willed it." He spoke calmly.
"The gods had no fucking hand in this." He spat at her, "Tullius' alone inflicts injury."
"And how shall it be answered?" She asked him, forever scheming for the elevation of this house. Regardless of cost to others lives or well being, and yet to be apart of it seem far less worse than to be on the other side of the coin.
"Apologies." Solonius spoke from beside me, a man I have rarely ever shared words with yet had the unfortunate opportunity of his hands being upon my skin or eyes lingering too long.
"Unwelcome guests makes appearance." He motioned for him and Domina to see the door.
Dominus turned to me, "This is one of the few times, I will tell you to leave my side. Go and make sure speed is important." He told me as I lowered my head. "Dominus." I told him practically fleeing to the balcony from Vettius sight.
Dominus was supposed to have both Gannicus and I delivered to Tullius the day before his seven days of mourning for his father. However he decided that the death of his father also meant the death of the contract itself. While I was out on the balcony I looked to the sands below me. The men all standing around preparing to give tribute to his father in casual fighting. Gannicus stood there, his expression broken. His mind very obviously not in the moment. This was my fault… I should have just forgiven him.
"You will forgive him soon. Too much has happened in such a short time, it would be hard for anyone to easily remove awful thoughts from mind." I turned to see Naevia, she had become my rock and best friend since the events of Diona's escape, Melitta and Titus' deaths and everything before and inbetween.
"I know I will, but my heart it feels as though it is broken. How does one just move on and yet still hold the love in their heart?" I asked her.
She lowered her head, "You gave your heart to him, and his to you. You took Melitta's place to spare her from feeling how you currently feel, only to have one of the guests force her into an action with no one to stand in her place as you had. Can you honestly say you would not wish to hide such awful things from a most trusted friend too?"
I nodded; "You are right. As always Naevia...I suppose it just hurts, that they could not trust me or have faith in me to be able to handle such things." I told her, "You will find the right path, you always do." She offered me a smile.
"The rumor is you are to become Dominus' body slave." She offered to me.
"He had sent Santos away with the death of his father much like they had with Lucina...Gaia's slave." I told her, "He said me taking his place would be the only way he would accept my becoming a slave. I receive the mark tonight."
"I wish it weren't so." She told me as I nodded, "As do I but now at least neither of us will be alone… we will always have each other." I told her as she nodded.
Dominus walked out to the balcony to me and tapped my shoulder, "Come, I must address the gladiators." He told me as I turned and followed him towards the stairs to the ludus. "Dominus may I ask a question?" I offered as he chuckled, "Always. When prying eyes are not around."
"Tullius' man… he was here to insult and ask about the sale?" I asked.
"Yes. That preening shit eater claims that he had waited the appropriate length of grieving. He demands that the two of you are to be delivered as promised, as I told you when I agreed to let you take the mark… such a thing will not happen. You will not be removed from the safety of this house." He told me "Now is not the time for such conversation," He reminded me before we both walked onto the sands. Gannicus instantly turning his attention towards me, as I stood off to the side.
A few guards brought Titus' body below onto a pyre. Dominus stood in front of his father and began to speak to the gladiators as well as the many guests above now standing on the balcony. "We have known the agony of heart ripped yet beating from sundered chest, and yet here we stand." He spoke as I looked out around at the men.
Barca looked terribly sad, as if the weight of Auctus and now Titus were weighing him down almost entirely. Gannicus weighted with the loss of friends, guilt of Melitta's death and the pain he had known to cause me absent real blame of the pain. "The House of Batiatus is no stranger to misfortune." He told me as I looked over to Oenomaus who stood next to me, his face hard as stone, life seemingly drained from his heart at the loss of cherished wife.
"To the cruel whims of the gods, and base men that would position themselves as such, and yet." He had begun to yell near the end of his words. "Here we stand!" He shouted loudly.
"This house is built atop unshakeable foundation of honor and respect; and in no man were these qualities more evident than Titus Lentulus Batiatus. I will laud my father's memory." He continued to speak as I noticed Dagan walk from the medicus office walking around the men standing in honor to the former Dominus. His eyes were fericy attached to someone, I leaned slightly to see whom it might be. Ashur. The man who had taken his right eye from him, figured the anger there should have been more obvious to me than it had been.
"Men of hard purpose and desire. Let previous decision fall aside. None among you will be sent to the mines, regardless of standing!" Dominus called out as I continued to watch the two syrian men, Dagan looking more then happy about the new revelation. From what I had been told is he had been learning our language very quickly since injury to eye.
"The sun has set on an era. Let us celebrate the name Titus Lentulus Batiatus with drink and the clash of swords! Their sound to carry my father to the afterlife!"
Oenomaus moved before us all and snapped his whip. "Take position!" He shouted out to the men as they all moved to ready themselves. "Spill blood upon the sand, yet live to one day die with glory and honor in the arena!" He called as Oenomaus walked towards him with a torch the two men thanking each other in silence for a small moment they must have shared beyond my line of sight.
Dominus placed the torch in a space between some of the logs on the pyre in front of him as Oenomaus instructed the men to begin their matches in front of all honored guests and Dominus. He stood there his eyes firmly planted on the now pyre almost engulfed by the flames, a sight that left me unsettled in thoughts of events yet to come for this house.
Later in the night I stood behind Dominus close to the door of his office as he was speaking to Gannicus whose eyes were on me and not Dominus like they probably should have been.
"This is all that remains. When the smoke clears and the embers die. The sum total of a man's life, This was my father's last act before his death. A bill of sale, transferring your ownership. Yours and Jana's ownership. The cause that moved you to seek audience, on the day I watched my father burn?" Dominus asked him, his voice filled with contempt.
"Apologies, Dominus." Gannicus spoke his eyes now finally torn from mine as he looked to Dominus. "I could wait no longer, it has been five days of me mulling over the words on which to present to you." He told him. Five days ago was when I had stopped speaking to him, when other slaves had attempt to leave word with me for him.
"To honor my father's wishes sees you fall to control of a man most hated. To defy them sees this house forever excluded from the new arena. A cock in the ass, from either direction; one a loss I could not bare to lose." He said motioned his head back towards me as I stood my ground behind him, eyes settling on the man who holds my heart.
"Speak, and give reason to see this join my father's ashes."
"I have no words towards such end. I come to see agreement honored." Gannicus spoke causing my brow to furrow. Dominus moving from a leaning position now to standing tall, "You wish to have you and Jana leave this house?"
"I wish to see blood. See me delivered to Tullius' care, and I will see his life for your father's." He almost seemed to roar out.
"My father never aimed a favored words towards you. Yet you entreat to be the instrument of his vengeance? Or is it another you seek it for?" He questioned him causing my eyes to feel the sting of pain noting me to a possible coming of tears.
Gannicus lowered his eyes, "I would seek it to keep her from his hands, and revenge for her losing yet another father from this life." He spoke, speaking of me.
"You would seek your life end, for a woman not yet yours. For the memory of two men the likes of which never to know you, the memory of a friend passed because of misfortunate events?"
"I would see but a thousand if I had but had them." Gannicus said firmly.
"If you had such a yearning to be with Jana, why did you not fight harder in the contest before my father? You could have taken Crixus, and remained here, close to your heart's desires."
Which I had to admit was a very good question why had he done as such? Why hadn't he fought harder for us to stay here, were the feelings he had for me as strong as he had led me to believe or was the guilt he and Melitta felt towards what they were commanded to do the reason behind why he had lost?
"The match was lost before sword was ever raised." Gannicus spoke softly. "If selling me was the decision all along I stood no chance regardless of the matches outcome."
"The same can be said of your plan against Tullius. He is forever surrounded not only by his own men, but by good citizens who would quickly come to the aid of such a 'noble' Roman." Dominus explained intensely.
"Then they too shall fall." Gannicus spoke aggressively. "You do not fucking think!" Dominus growled.
"This." Dominus started picking up the piece of paper, "Grants ownership to Tullius' lap dog Vettius! You would be sent to the boy's ludus in fucking Nola, while Jana would be taken to Tullius' villa here in Capua. A year could pass before you find yourself close enough to Tullius, let alone see the woman you love again."
"I would suffer a lifetime but to have the chance to strike."
"This house would be the one that suffers! Jana would be the one that suffers! A year of the greatest gladiator in the Republic fighting for those shits! A year of you needing to win each fight against my fucking men in the hopes of gaining an audience with Tullius." Dominus went off on him, "By the end of that year, what horrors do you think Jana would have been forced to face in the name of keeping you complacent? That is if she even lasts that long in his house."
"Would he not wish to see the man he has fought so hard to gain? When so delivered? Could I not demand her safety, would her being safe not be important to him in order to keep me from throwing matches?"
"Your desires are well noted." Dominus spoke to him as he made his way back to the table looking at me as if he wished to say something. "I will weigh argument, and come to an answer in the balance." He said before snapping causing the two guards to move forwards to gather him.
"Dominus." Gannicus said his eyes still upon me.
Once he had walked away he looked towards me, "I assume, you are the brains of this romance?"
"Was." I spoke softly, "We have not had a moment to speak since unfortunate events have taken hold of the villa." I told him.
"Do you wish to go see him? Speak to him?" He asked me as I just remained silent.
"My duty is to attend to my Dominus, not to speak to other slaves. Unless so instructed to do so." I told him, why was I still so angry? Of course I wished to speak to him, every part of me wanted to run to him when he stood there, hold him in loving embrace. Yet I kept denying myself every opportunity to do so.
Quintius smiled to me before moving towards me, "You are yet marked a slave, and even so you are still the most fiercely loyal to this house. Something that will not be soon forgotten, come if you wish to earn the mark. Than you shall, at proper time." He told me as I just nodded to him.
"Dominus." He just put a hand on my shoulder and smiled, "Come, if you change your mind before you are dismissed you can still go to him should you want to."
He told me before we both left the office in search on Lucretia and Solonius. Whom were not very far away standing around the one room drinking wine and waiting upon Dominus return from his talk with Gannicus. "Where is the fucking wine?" Dominus called to them once they were in earshot of his voice.
"Naevia brings more." Domina spoke looking over at me, "I should take my leave" Solonius spoke up.
"No, stay." Dominus groaned to his friend. "I would have your counsel. Gannicus pressed to honor terms towards his and Jana's sale." He told them both.
"Then the matter is resolved." Solonius softly cheered towards them both.
""Fuck resolution. The man only desires close proximity to Tullius, and the villain's throat beneath his hands."
"He would kill Tullius for us?" Domina questioned him as she placed her hand on me, "What would that mean of Jana, they would kill her. I will not have it we already lost Diona. Do you believe it possible?"
"He attempted to speak about the chance of her safety, however the man had clearly not thought all through. He likely figured it would result in them both escaping with their lives." Dominus explained,
"You speak of madness! The girl should never have been a pawn in the sale. She is not even a slave. Selling a free person?" Solonius argued. "Tullius is far too cautious to ever lower guard. Especially in the presence of a man loyal to the House of Batiatus. He would have her life threatened just to keep him in order."
"And what would brave Solonius do in my fucking position? Turn blind eye towards the murder of his father?"
"He would be certain to strike appropriate target." Solonius offered him, "What if Tullius had no hand in this?"
"His gift of wine was tainted with death." Domina spat.
"But was it by Tullius' hand?" Solonius asked her, "Or another moved by equal grievance? What if Vettius is the true cause of this? The boy's hatred for you is well known." He finished, he was not wrong.
"You are right." Dominus let out a sigh, "Vengeance would stand a hollow vessel… were it not filled with retribution against all who have injured this house. Including young Vettius." He said as he walked towards where Domina and I were standing, "Leave us." He told me, causing me to miss whatever good Solonius responded to him with. "Dominus." I nodded my head before leaving the room to go find Naevia, or ponder the thought of visiting Gannicus.
Once I had found Naevia she looked to me with much concern in her eyes, "You are to receive the mark of the Dominus tonight, not Domina?" She had asked me.
"I suspect Domina requires more delicate hands, something since my unbreaking with Gannicus I no longer possess."
Naevia smiled at me, "No, you do not. Possible a gained trait from Gannicus… Why do you still avoid his attempts to talk? I have heard some of which he wishes to say to you… He is a broken man, now filled with the guilt of hurting you and the death of most cherished friend." She told me.
I looked away from her, "I will find time to break words with him. Now is yet not the time."
"There you are." Dominus spoke, "Naevia, my wife wishes to see you." He told her as she bowed her head. "Dominus."
"Jana, it's time." He told me as he extended his arm and I followed him. "The mark?" I asked him.
"It will not be nearly as pretty as Naevia is to be, I've decided we will stick with the same tattoo that was given to my father's body slaves, and his father's before him. The stalking panther. Need you a reminder of your duties as a body slave to your Dominus."
"No, Dominus." I told. "I will remind you anyway, You are to be loyal to me, and only me. You are not to leave my side, unless commanded to. You are to tell me everything and anything that goes on within these walls should I leave you behind. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Dominus."
"This includes any and all of the ongoings of my wife." I looked to the floor, "Yes, Dominus."
The pricking of the needle into my shoulder hurt, a lot more than I was expecting it to. Every so often the slave behind me would stop causing the pain in my shoulder to wipe away some of the access ink and blood that may have been there. "Do you know why the Panther?" He asked me.
I just shook my head, "No, Dominus."
"Panthers represent; strength, triumph, adventure and most important. Loyalty. You must embody that now as my closest slave. Do you understand."
"Yes, Dominus." He smiled slightly nodding at me. "Is it done?" He asked me as the slave must have nodded. "Great! Let's go." [Link will be at the bottom to see it if you want to.]
"Bring oil and a sharpened blade." Dominus called out as we walked towards Naevia, Domina and Camila an older slave in the house. Most of us just referred to her as a mother, because she was like one to most of the younger slaves.
"I would be rid of this fucking beard." He spoke as I walked behind him, Naevia and I trying to catch a glimpse of the new mark we both newly had. "Solonius?" Domina questioned as Naevia and I now both followed behind them together.
"His courage hardened, and hands set to task." He told her as we both stood beside one another. "Then you have come to decision?" She asked him.
"One that not even good Tullius will see coming. Gather my father's ashes." He called over to me, and tell Oenomaus to prepare Gannicus to leave these walls. Or do it yourself whichever you see fit." He spoke as I nodded before turning on my way to do as commanded. "And change, we will not have time otherwise if we are to wait for you." He told me as I removed myself from the vestibule and headed to my room that I was now to share with Naevia. I put on a new robe soft purple in colour with accents of white. Before putting on a heavier cloth around me to act as some sort of deterrent from the cold and wind. (Like a shawl but just a solid thick piece of cloth.)
I found and urn on my way to the stairs below the ludus, as I then made my way down the steps. "Open gate, Dominus would have me collect his father's ashes." I spoke as the two guards nodded before moving from my way after opening the gate. I moved with purpose thinking of what to do about Gannicus however the thought was taken from me when I managed to walk right into him on my way to the pyre.
"Jana…" He spoke to me softly, "I .. I.. " He had begun to stammer.
"We must speak." I told him as I moved with him back into his cell.
Once in his cell I closed the door behind us, "Jana I have been-" I put my finger to his lips. His brow furrowing at the oddity of my behaviour. "I will speak, and you will listen." I told him.
He sat down on his bed, me now sitting beside him my hands in my lap as I stared at one of the walls. My heart beating heavily beneath my breast, my lips becoming dry and my mind mixed and filled with the words needed to be spoken. "I feel betrayed." I told him finally.
"My heart is filled with agony and pain, and yet it yearns for your touch. I desire nothing more than your lips upon mine, our bodies intertwined. The sound of your voice hot upon my ear, the words of your love written in the sweat on our bodies. Yet I am torn." I told him looking over at him sadness and tears now starting to fill my eyes.
"They are to take us both away from here, give us possibly to a new master and yet that seems like a lie told by Quintus." I said again finally licking my lips to moisten them. "I know that the betrayal I feel is at not fault or cause to you… or Melitta but Domina. Yet the pain is still the same, the hurt is still in my heart." I sighed placing my hand atop his.
"I love you, Gannicus, my heart to be forever yours on the condition you tell me why she was here alone. Why you both concealed something so heavy to me...why…" I spoke to him softly as his eyes turned to the ground.
The seconds felt like an eternity waiting for him to answer me, however he moved so that our hands were holding one another's. "I do not know why she had come by herself. She had just come and knocked on my door asking if we would share in drink knowing we are to be sold. She had said that we needed to tell you what had happened as it had been killing her." He told me.
"I didn't partake in drink because I had hoped to see you, and drink has never sat well with me in terms of...performing." He remarked causing me to smile softly. "Melitta seemed a shell of herself, having to lie to her most cherished friend and husband. Of actions that were far removed from her own hands. I wished every moment shared with you that I could tell you but she had asked me-"
I sighed, "Your love for me did not mean more to you, than the trust between friends? I understand...I am just angry." I told him as he pulled me into a hug. "Your love for me, is the only thing that gives me peace in this life anymore." He told me before pausing. "What is this?"
I moved from him, "The mark of the Dominus." I told him as he growled almost like the panther on my shoulder. Which was smaller that it had felt, likely the same size as Naevias' butterfly now adorning her shoulder. "You decided then…" He told me as I nodded, "That's going to be quite the amount of games I shall have to win just to free us both." He chuckled.
"A jest, now...really?" I asked him as he just grinned.
"Having you speak to me, let alone here with me lifts heart to unimaginable heights." He told me as I moved closer placing a kiss to his lips softly. "Than that must have you reaching the gods themselves." I told him causing him to laugh. "Even higher still." He said kissing my lips softly once again.
"Come," I told him, "You are to get ready to leave the villa, as I have to gather Titus ashes for Dominus… I will return here when I am done if you are not already ready to leave then." I told him.
I knelt there scooping some of the ashes on the ground into the urn, even knowing most of the ashes were likely just wood and not Titus. The thought of never seeing such a man again in my life brought me great sadness. He really was a titan among men, he cared for each of his slaves more than most Romans even cared for each were never just slaves to him, they were always more than that.
"Do you not think you might stand out in the dark wearing such a light colour?" Gannicus asked me as he approached me.
"In the cover of the night, are all colour not equally as dark as the sky without light of fire or sun?" I offered him. "That is fair enough." He chuckled as the gate behind us opened revealing Dominus followed by Barca, Oenomaus, Rhaskos, Gnaeus, Ashur and two other gladiators I never bothered to know the names of.
"Come we have ground needing to be covered." Quintus told us as I nodded before heading towards him. "The urn." I offered him.
We had spent time navigating through the streets, our heads covered slightly by either hoods or cloth to keep our faces hidden, not that should anyone see us that they would be a problem. Barca lead us through the streets with Dominus not far behind him, with Gannicus and I huddled next to one another with Oenomaus closely behind us. Each of them with a concealed blade should any problems arrive absent cause.
We stopped in a corridor with no windows or openings facing inwards. Gannicus now his arm tightly around me pulling him close to me. "You should not be apart of such games." He told me. "I do but as commanded." I told him as I looked up to him.
"Where are they?" I heard Dominus ask from in front of us, referring to the others that left with us, "I will search ahead." Barca suggested to him.
"Stay where you are. I would not have you from my fucking side." Dominus commented to him.
"If you had sold us to Tullius, no one else's life would be at risk." Gannicus reminded him.
"None but Jana's. With great risk comes greater reward." Dominus told us as I felt Gannicus pull me closer at the sound of my name being at risk of harm. "And I would have mine."
"The Syrians arrive." Oenomaus told us all from behind us, as he motioned before us, as to where Ashur and I assumed Gnaeus were now standing. He whom had more of a reason to seek the man dead next to Dominus. It was Tullius wine that had caused both Titus and Melitta's lives to be forfeit.
Two shadows appeared at the end of the corridor in front of us which I was almost positive was the other slaves that had left the ludus with us. Almost as if on cue however Tullius, Vettius and Solonius walked out from the only other opening in this alley. I looked up to Gannicus as he moved to have me now hidden behind him. Why had I wasted so much time? We could have been spending all these days together and I had selfishly chosen to waste them ignoring him from anger not even meant for him.
"I grow weary of these games, Batiatus." Tullius spoke ominously. "And would see them to bitter end. "
"As would I." Quintus spoke.
The men looked to their left as two gladiators moved into sight, followed by their left where Rhaskos now stood. They then looked behind them as Ashur and Gnaeus revealed themselves to the men. I tugged on Gannicus robes as he turned to look at me, "Stay as far back if you can, I will not see you hurt." He told me as he broke open the shackles that were not even attached to him before removing mine as well. Dominus then handed Gannicus a sword and me a dagger.
"Come, let us embrace, you fucking cunt." Dominus told the man as he turned back to Tullius and his pet Vettius. All the men then drew their weapons and began to fight as Oenomaus pushed me back into the corner as to not be hurt. Even though it had caused me to stumble and fall onto my backside in the dirt.
I watched as the two gladiators along with Gnaeus and Ashur quickly took to removing the slaves that Tullius brought with them. Ending their lives in a flurry of stabs and cuts, Barca soon joined in along with Gannicus as they began to kick and punch the men before pulling their own blades out engaging in sword fight with the men around them. Oenomaus used his whip to force a man towards him before knocking him to the ground.
I felt myself slide up the wall into a standing position helplessly watching the chaos that was happening in front of me. Rhaskos was engaging the errand boy Vettius in an attempt not to cause grievous injury to the boy. Dominus turned to me, "You use that if anyone is to come close to you, do you understand?" He roared at me.
"Yes, Dominus." I told him as I moved along the wall to join Solonius off to where no one could harm us. I kept my eyes on Gannicus in the hopes that he would not be harmed in the slightest bit during this brutal attack.
"You should never have accepted the mark." Solonius whispered to me, "That house, should you not remain in his favour, will become your tomb. My heart cries for you sweet girl… I fear the woman you may yet need to become."
I just stood there, fully aware of the truth being spoken to me and yet I would still continue to hold out faith that maybe Solonius and my own suspicions would be wrong and that all would not be lost along side Titus.
My attention was taken from me at the sight of Vettius falling to the ground before me, and Barca soon after being stabbed by one of the men's slaves. I felt helpless, I was German… I should not be afraid my people were known for being fearless warriors. Yet here I stood cowering next to good Solonius. Dominus quickly killed the slave that stabbed Barca, which sent chills down my spine.
Gannicus then wrapped the chains around Titus' neck bringing him to the ground Oenomaus rushed over to him sword in hand ready to end his life when he was halted by Dominus. "Wait! Hold!" Gannicus looked around in a frenzy before his eyes landed on me and I could see his eyes turn from scared to calm in almost an instant.
Everyone soon moved in closer to Dominus and the men whom had Tullis on the ground in the mud and blood. Stepping out from the small entryway I found myself next to Gnaeus who looked at me like I was some piece of meat. I watched as Ashur patted him on the chest shaking his head to the man as he then angrily moved away from me. "Apologies." Ashur said to me with a small smile on his lips.
"Gratitude." I told him, yet none was needed to give as Dominus would likely kill any one of them should they touch me on this night.
"Such a death… would be far to quick. Bind him." He then ordered Oenomaus as I moved closer helping with the rope only for him to stand up and move away leaving task to me to complete. "And you…" Dominus spoke from the depths of his throat. "You played your part to fucking perfection!" He called to Solonius.
I finished binding the wrists of Tullius as his small beady eyes bore into my own. "You would have kept your freedom in our possession." He mumbled to me. "It is not freedom, if it comes with the cost of possession." I growled to the man as he just looked to me a slight shade of fear in his eyes. We moved Tullius so that he were on his knees, Dominus and Solonius still talking now behind us as I leaned in closer to Tullius as they put a cloth between his mouth to silence any noise from the man.
"Even if you were not involved in the death of his father, did you really think he would have had this come to any other ending?" I questioned him before standing up and taking my place next to Gannicus.
"Not at all an eerie thing to say to a man heading to his death." He whispered to me.
"Are all things not so, when words are placed from one mouth to another. Who delivers the words matters not, when who they came from is clearly placed in mind upon receiving them."
Gannicus just nodded, "This house is s-" I shook my head, "Wait to say such things when mine are the only ears hearing them. You can clearly now see result of illspoken words." I told him.
"See these bodies put to grass. Then get yourself to the medicus." Dominus called out to Barca who just nodded, his eyes also filled with the same fear the rest of us were feeling. "You sure to your purpose?" Dominus then asked Solonius.
"My path has never been clearer." Solonius replied his tone rather dark.
Gannicus and Oenomaus both lifted the man to his feet as I now moved to stand behind Dominus. Still not sure to the reason I was not sent to leave along side Barca, Ashur, Gnaeus and Rhaskos? Surely I no longer held purpose in these events, unless intent was to scare. "Good Tullius." Dominus spoke as the man struggle in the arms of the two gladiators.
"Let us have final you depart this life." Dominus spoke ominously, as he motioned for the men to cover his head with a bag before motioning for us all to follow him.
"Jana, walk ahead with me." Dominus spoke as I nodded before rushing to catch up with him. "Dominus." I spoke looking over at him as the thunder roared up in the sky. Had the gods seen this?
"Where would you think the best resting place for a man; that stole such gifts from our house should be?" He asked me as he continued to walk with purpose.
"Dominus?" I questioned to him.
"Well, he took my beloved father a man you saw as a father yourself. Had hand in the death of your most cherished friend Melitta. Do you not think you have a place in this family to also chose such a thing? Come pick a place." He told me.
"The easiest and least looked place would be the lower levels of the new arena… the place he sought to keep the ludus from participating in games." I suggested, "Or the rubble-" I started as he stopped me.
"No, the new arena… perfect. I think you will settle into new role perfectly." He told me as I smiled awkwardly before we all continued forwards through the streets towards the new arena.
Entering through one of the side gates, the men dragged Tullius down into the lower levels. Dagan and another slave slowly pulled the bricks from the wall leaving an opening, or rather a hole there. I stood off to the side as they dropped him onto the ground as Dagan pulled the last few bricks from the wall. Looking around I noticed this was likely going to be where they held Gladiators during or before matches. It looked like a prison. Dagan looked towards me with confusion, likely as to why I was even here. Being a woman and being involved in such brutal actions must have been a loss to him.
With Tullius now on the ground I looked at him knowing this was where he was to die, and likely over something he might not have even had a hand in doing. Yet, knowing this did not even matter. Dagan and the other slave moved away from the newly made hole and took their places behind where Tullius was laying on the ground. Oenomaus and Gannicus standing on either side of Dominus as I stood a short bit off to the side. Still very much in the sight line of Tullius.
"A game well played, Batiatus." He said his voice shaking clearly very scared of the sight that now surrounded him. "Now let us come to terms." The man had to know that Dominus was willing to do just about anything to get what he wanted. Revenge the main thing, position the second most thing he wanted.
Dominus who was now leaning above the man, must have seemed a giant if not a titan. "Your man Gannicus and the slave girl obviously mean a good deal to you, to press to such extremes." I thought I had only been in the offer because I had asked to be, however with the mention of me before Titus had returned and even now made me feel like I had been apart of the bargaining the entire time. What for though? Surely he knew I was more useful than a pleasure slave.
"I will cease my pursuit of them."
Dominus moved lower, now in a crouched position. Gannicus turning to face me extending his arm so that I would come take my place next to him as I did looking down at the man whom had caused all this to come to pass. "Offer more. You did after all seek to take my slave as your own personal pleasure slave, and my Champion as your own." Dominus told him as I looked up to Gannicus.
"Such things to cause great offence still." Suppose this answered my question as to why I was involved. Why would Titus allow me to be apart of such a trade, he had looked to me as his own child. "I meant no offence; I will see your house take prominence in all upcoming games." Tullius offered.
"More." Dominus groaned.
"Speak desire, and see it attended." Tullius shouted out.
"I desire to see you suffer. As I have suffered at your fucking hands." Dominus responded.
"Your suffering has only begun, lanista. When it is discovered what you have done to me!" Tullius continued to shout.
"You will not be discovered. Nor missed. Solonius moves young Vettius, towards offering proper explanation for your disappearance." Dominus began to explain to him as the fear had finally started to seep into the man's eyes. This once strong and confident man now reduced to nothing more than a pile of shakes and quivers. Eyes filling with terror, that once held little to no emotion at all.
"Vettius?" He muttered, now realizing the man he had arrived in the alley with was not among those here.
"The city will mourn." Dominus told him as he stood back up. "Soon your name will be spoken of less and less. Until it is lost to history."
"I should have had your life at the beginning of this." Tullius told him. "The mistake is mine, having stayed hand in respect of your father."
"Respect?" Dominus asked him as Dagan pulled out a small bag similar to the one I had packed the soot and ashes into earlier. Yet I had thought that was place into a box.
I looked up to Gannicus who just stood his ground, his arm firmly around my waist. Oenomaus was gripping the blade in his hand next to us surely with the mind to just murder the man responsible for the death of his wife, Melitta. I looked back towards Dominus only to be shocked watching him stuff the ashes of his father into Tullius' mouth.
"Then pay it to the remains of the man himself." The reason to gathering the ashes now made sense to me, yet it seemed a dishonorable thing to be doing to them. Dagan held the man still as Dominus continued his assault on the man. "This is wrong." I whispered to Gannicus.
"As was him having poisoned the wine." He whispered back.
Having just listened to Dominus shout at the man I watched as he then backed up and stood between Oenomaus, Gannicus and I once again. "Why should I strike against your father? He was an honorable Roman. A man who knew his place." Titus spoke moving into a kneeling position.
"As I know yours." Dominus told him pointing a blade at the man. "There will be an accounting, Batiatus." Tullius began to tell him as he tried to stand up. "For this and everything that follows."
"The gods will see to it some day." Tullius continued as Dominus grabbed onto his robe pulling the man to his feet. "But not this one." Dominus told him, his voice cold as ice as he plunged a dagger deep into the man's stomach.
He let the man fall to the ground before grabbing the front of my robe pulling me away from the scene about to take place as both Oenomaus and Gannicus began to beat and stab the man themselves. I looked in horror to Dominus as he handed me the blade now covered in blood, my whole body felt as if it was vibrating from the inside out. Sheer shock was running through my veins. "You will show your utter loyalty to me, and this house." He told me thrusting the blade into my hands nearly covering them in the hot substance.
He pushed me to my knees next to Gannicus, the two men still widely stabbing the man. His screams and cries filling my body with terror. I could feel the hot tears streaming down my face at the horrors that stood before me on the ground. "Do it Jana." Dominus spoke from behind me his hand on my shoulder as I swallowed hard before gripping the blade and thrusting it deep into the man's chest and stomach myself.
I could feel the blade slipping from my hand from all the blood that was now covering my robe and my arms. I finally stopped, sound seeming to come to an end. A chilled ringing noise was filling my head and causing me to feel dizzy and out of sorts. I looked to Gannicus who was saying something to me as he moved me from the now dying man's body. He pulled me to my feet and walked me a small distance away from the scene my eyes still firmly planting on it as the blade fell from my hand.
I watched as Dominus and Dagan both moved the man into the hole in the wall slowly putting the bricks back in place filling it all in seamlessly. Gannicus moving my head to face him, he was talking to me and yet his voice was not making it to my ears. The ringing noise still consuming my entire body, I had never taken a life. I had only watched the men take lives in the arena, this, Melitta, Titus, my brother Reinhard and my father were the only people besides Gladiators I had ever even seen die.
I looked to Gannicus the tears still streaming down my face, my eyes now looking to his lips as I saw him mouth the words 'I love you' before pulling me closely to his chest. I let my eyes close hoping for the pain and awful torment of this night to leave my memory as quickly as it had been etched there. Knowing such a thing would never really happen.
Below is the tattoo now on Jana's left shoulder.
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