[Guys it's been a while! Glad to be back! Check out "Daughter of the Moon" by Adriana Figueroa" before reading! Song will appear somewhere below and it is beautiful!"]
Chapter 10
Endymion titled his straining head back. With his eyes closed, his remaining senses concentrated on nothing but the smooth coolness around him and the soft lapping of water from the small fountain nearby. He inhaled deeply, taking in the aromatic fragrances of rose petals and essential oils. Little by little did his strained and exhausted body start to relax, but even the cool bath in the villa's bathing quarters was not able to completely wash away the adrenaline that was still pumping like liquid fire through his body. Images from the Primus flashed like blinding lighting through his mind, quick and disjointed tags of memories – but each of them filled with the crimson and golden colors of blood and sand.
"Have you cleaned yourself?" a voice startled him out of his thoughts.
Endymion opened his eyes and looked at the dark-haired man that was now standing at the entrance of the villa's bathing area.
"The Dominus wishes to speak to you, gladiator." the man added, his expression blank and his eyes cool as he kept staring at Endymion.
The young man was the Dominus' body-slave – Saphir as Endymion recalled. Endymion noticed how Saphir's blue eyes briefly flickered towards the water inside the pool, the sight causing a flicker of something close to disgust to dart over his young face. The Thracian looked down to see what exactly had evoked such kind of expression. The water around him – once of a clear blueish green color – had turned into a mixture of liquid red and brown as the sluiced down blood and dirt now floated gracefully in flat circles around Endymion's naked body.
Tainting the spotless room of white marble and glowing light colors with dark hard paints of reality.
It was a sight that sent a strange wave of pleasure through Endymion's body – a wave of pride.
Blood and sand – a proof of what he had achieved that day.
A proof of what he had been – of what he still was – capable of.
A smirk lifted his lips while his eyes darkened.
He liked the way the colors of red and dark surrounded him.
They matched him better than the previous.
"Where are the slaves that were sent to help you bath?" Saphir's hard voice made him lift his gaze.
The other man was still standing at the entrance, but his dark brows were furrowed and his eyes clouded with irritation as they searched the room for the two women that had been sent by the Dominus himself to worship the city's latest hero.
"I sent them away." came Endymion's short reply.
Saphir's gaze turned hard as it settled back onto the man inside the pool.
"Why?" he asked with a low voice, his eyes firmly fixed on Endymion as if to observe his reaction closely.
Endymion's blue orbs narrowed a little.
The answer to that specific question was just as simple as it was difficult. His blue eyes settled onto one of the marble sculptures adorning the pool's edge. He felt how a spark of fury quickened his pulse.
After the battle against Theokoles, he had been brought back to the villa and had been led to the family's private bathing quarters. He had been alone at first, speechless and stunned by the beauty of his surroundings. Never had he seen such a place like this: with pillars of white marble and clean, glistering water within the confines of a rectangular pool of blue and golden colors.
He did not belong here – covered in the blood of the monster he had slain only an hour ago and with dirt and sweat clinging to his hair and skin. Euphoria and victory had been still rushing through his veins as he took in his surroundings.
Several white statues of Gods and Goddesses were scattered across the room, their stony forms naked and locked in passionate embraces. Endymion's gaze then had settled onto one particular sculpture that had managed to gain his attention.
He remembered how he had slowly moved closer towards the life-sized statue of two people – of a man and a woman.
The man had his face buried in the woman's crook of her neck, his chin-length hair falling like a curtain down on either side of his head so that his facial features were not visible. His right hand was firmly closed around one of the woman's breasts, while the left was tangled in the masses of her flowing mane. Endymion's eyes then had travelled upwards. The woman's head was thrown back, her eyes closed in pure bliss while the sculptor had successfully captured the moment of pleasure and ecstasy on her well-proportioned face. Endymion hadn't been able to look away from her face. High cheek bones and plush lips, a cute little nose and swan-like neck.
The facial expression just as familiar as the face itself.
Something within him had stirred at the sight – sending jolts of both arousal and fury through his system.
He had reached out one hand, his soiled fingers hovering only inches before the feminine form.
Yearning to touch the flawless marble.
Yearning to soil the perfect face of shining smooth white.
Yeaning to leave a visible proof of his touch.
"Do you like it?" a sultry, deep voice had suddenly asked, causing his hand to immediately drop.
When he had turned around, he had been greeted by the sight of two women, clothed in nothing but their seductive smiles. Endymion remembered those women from the night before – the ones the Dominus had tried to gift his gladiators before the battle against Theokoles.
"It was built on the Dominus' special request." the woman with long brown hair had explained while slowly moving closer to where he had been standing.
Endymion had watched her with tentative eyes, his body tensing a little as the woman let her hands sensually move across the male sculpture's hard body.
"Ares and Aphrodite." the other woman then had added, and Endymion had been surprised to suddenly find her only some feet away from him. "Mars and Venus."
A smirk had been on her face as she had gazed up at him through thick lashes, the burning hunger in her eyes causing his blue eyes to narrow.
"What do you want?" Endymion had asked with iciness in his steel-like voice.
Both women had let out soft giggles, the sound of their voices echoed by the high walls.
"My name is Saori." the brown-haired woman had said, offering Endymion another seductive smile.
"I am Beryl." the other woman added.
"It is quite an arousing sight, is it not?" the red-head had purred before Endymion had been able to say another word, the green of her orbs sparkling with dark desire. "To see how the God of war bends the woman he desires to his will. How he makes her body worship him in the way he deserves. Don't you agree, gladiator?"
Endymion's eyes had flickered back towards the sculpture.
The woman he desires.
The fingers of both hands had curled to fists as he kept staring at the two stony forms – the blue of his eyes darkening with barely tamed fury.
There was no doubt who exactly the Dominus had had in mind when he'd given order to build the sculpture according to his wishes. The more he'd stare at the marble forms, the more had the Thracian's heart pounded with fury against his ribcage.
He quickly had turned away from it, the expression on his face cold as stone as his gaze settled back onto the two women.
"What do you want?" Endymion had repeated his previous question, the tone of his voice low and impatient.
Saori had dared to move a little closer while her hands started to sensually roam her naked form.
"We, too, are here to worship a God of war." she had purred with glistering eyes.
"A gift from the Dominus to pay homage to the hero of Capua." Beryl had added, her face a world adoration and desire.
But before either of their hands had been able to touch him, Endymion had harshly slapped them away, his eyes burning as he had glared at both women.
"There is no need." he had snapped at them.
Endymion had seen the spark of irritation to briefly wash through their eyes, which had been soon replaced by one of amusement.
"There is no need to play coy." Beryl had laughed – a sound that had made Endymion's entire body cringe with disgust. "We are here to please, and to please is what we will do."
"Gladiator!" Saphir's steel-like voice interrupted Endymion's thoughts about his earlier encounter with the two slave women.
Endymion quickly turned his gaze away from the marble statue and looked at the other man with a mask of indifference on his face.
"I was not in need of their service." he told him coolly. "Be it bathing or anything else they had to offer."
Saphir stared at him for some moments of tense silence, his eyes searching Endymion's face as if to detect the reason for the Thracian's odd behavior.
"You once again reject the Dominus' generosity." the body-slave then said, the accusation and disapproval heavy in his voice.
The firm expression on Endymion's gaze never wavered as he returned Saphir's gaze.
"The Dominus will show his generosity by freeing my sister from whatever horrible place she had been sent to." The Thracian replied tersely. "There is nothing more I would want to ask from him than this."
Saphir stared at him a moment longer before he finally gave a short nod of approval, his face softening a little.
"Put on the breeches I've brought along." he said and nodded his head towards a small bundle of clothing. "The Dominus requests your presence. Hurry, Thracian."
With one elegant movement, Saphir turned around and was about to make his way out of the bathing chambers when Endymion's voice made him stop.
"So are you, are you not?" Endymion called after him.
"From Thrace." The gladiator added when Saphir would show no further reaction.
Slowly, the body-slave turned around, a stony expression on his face as he regarded Endymion.
"The color of your skin and hair – even your eyes." Endymion continued, leaning a little bit forward and narrowing his eyes as he looked at the other man closely. "I recognize a fellow countryman when I see one. We are much alike, you and me."
There was a long beat of silence before Saphir spoke.
"My blood may be tainted by my heritage," he said with iciness in both voice and eyes. "…but my heart is pure and full of love for the Dominus and the Roman Empire. We are nothing alike. Never were, never will be."
With these words, he spun around and left.
Endymion stared after him, his teeth clenched and body tense as Saphir's words remained like invisible poison in the air.
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Tiberius stared out of the window, his tired blue eyes following the heavy drops of rain as they poured down onto the raging ocean. The heavens had kept their promise and had ended the ongoing drought by finally sending the long-desired rain. A token of mercifulness after having been offered the blood of Theokoles – the Shadow of Death.
"Father" a voice addressed him, joyful and with a hint of arrogance.
It made Tiberius' body tense a little.
He didn't turn.
"What are you doing here?" Diamond asked as he stared at his father's back.
His father didn't answer – he kept watching the rain fall.
Diamond shrugged and filled another goblet with rich wine, offering it to his father.
"Come." he said, a smug smile on his face. "Drink with me and let us celebrate our house's victory."
The words made Tiberius slowly turn around, his face hard as stone and his blue eyes cold as he looked at the offered goblet with something close to disdain.
"Victory, you say?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. "And what, if I may ask, have we achieved, Diamond? What have we conquered?"
Irritation flashed through the younger man's indigo eyes while he kept the goblet of wine still lifted.
"We defeated Thoekoles – the Shadow of Death." Diamond told him with his head held high and confidence in his voice. "We taught Rubeus and the likes of him never to underestimate our house's strength."
The flash of anger that flared up in Tiberius' eyes was the only warning before he forcefully slapped the goblet of wine out of his son's hand. The piece of metal landed several feet away on the floor with a clashing sound, spilling the goblet's crimson content like a pool of blood onto the cold marble stones.
"You fool!" Tiberius spat angrily, causing Diamond to take an irritated step backwards. "Even now you think you have achieved something of great value instead of seeing the truth!"
Diamond's eyes narrowed at that, his nostrils flaring.
"Capua's people celebrate our gladiator's victory – the legend that he is, that he has become today! Because of me! The people's prayers and songs of joy are directed at us and our house! And you accuse me of being the fool that does not see what we have achieved today?! What I have achieved today?!"
Tiberius let out a cheerless chuckle and shook his head.
"Still the fool!" he growled, his eyes darkening as he glared at his son. "And what if the Thracian had not won? What about Malachite – the Champion of Capua – who is currently fighting Pluto himself not to be taken to the Orcus?"
Diamond lifted his chin in defiance, his indigo eyes equally cool as he returned his father's icy stare.
"The Thracian did not disappoint and Capua has a new Champion." He replied coldly. "Nothing else matters. What else could you want?"
"What I want is for you to grow up!" Tiberius yelled in frustration. "What I want is for you to think twice before you let yourself trick into something that could have very well meant this house's ruin!"
Both of Diamond's hands curled to fists, his jaw tensing as he stared into his father's enraged face.
"I did not let myself…" he started, but was immediately cut short by his father's harsh words.
"DO NOT!" Tiberius barked, his blue eyes alive with the fire of disappointment and frustration. "Do not try and deny it! It was your worthless ego and the hatred for Rubeus that blinded you! It was your foolish arrogance that made you accept this insane offer! Do you want this house to go under, to perish? Do you so desperately want to destroy everything my forefathers have fought for? Everything they have built?!"
Diamond stared at his raging father with a stony expression on his face, the flash of hurt that had darted through his eyes the only short glimpse at what he was truly feeling.
"My only wish was to bring honor and glory to this house." he told him in a breathy voice.
Tiberius let out a huff of exasperation and shook his head, looking away.
"Honor and glory …" Tiberius whispered, shaking his head anew. "… are two qualities you know nothing about, Diamond."
Deadly silence stretched out between them, building an invisible wall that could be sensed, but not be seen.
"Then I offer my apologies, Dominus." Diamond whispered. "For not even through achieving the impossible do I seem to be able to be the son you so desperately crave."
Tiberius closed his eyes at his son's words, his heart breaking as he listened to Diamond's retreating steps.
The old general released a stream of air then – the exhaled breath pregnant with sorrow and exhaustion.
"Words are powerful weapons." a soft voice suddenly floated through the silent room. "They inflict pain even the sharpest sword is not able to cause."
Tiberius turned his sad eyes to settle on the dark-haired woman who had quietly entered the room.
"Is it not a father's task to be harsh sometimes to protect his child from his own foolishness?" he asked weakly while gazing at the High Priestess.
Luna let out a soft sigh, pity filling her dark eyes.
"There is a fine line between harshness and cruelty." she told him gently.
Tiberius averted his eyes, his gaze settling onto the forgotten goblet with spilled wine on the floor.
"You think me cruel?" he asked without looking at her, his words of genuine interest and quietly spoken as if he feared the answer.
"Do you think she would think me cruel?" he added with a whisper.
Luna remained silent at first, her dark eyes never leaving the broken man before her. She knew that his mind was occupied with thoughts of his deceased wife – her former Domina. The Domina had accepted Serenity and Diamond right from the beginning – had loved them like the children Juno had never granted her. But their time together had been short-lived. When Diamond reached the age of 10, the Domina had died from fever, taking with her some of the light she had never failed to bring to her husband and children.
"Do you think you are?" Luna turned Tiberius' question on him, titling her head little to the left.
Tiberius didn't answer right away. With his eyes focused on the spilled wine-goblet, he replayed the look of disdain and hurt on his son's face. It had not been the first time Diamond had looked at him like this. Over the past years, it had been something he had observed more often than he could count – more often than he wanted to count. But all he did, he did it only to protect his son. The world was cruel, the people in it sly and filled with hatred. He needed Diamond to understand that. He needed him to see, to learn that any wrong move could cost him dearly. That arrogance and false pride could destroy everything in the blink of an eye. He as his father needed to be harsh, needed to be relentlessly. Because the world was. Because he wanted him to survive.
Because he loved him.
"I love him." he said it aloud, his words and eyes sincere as he looked back at Luna. "I would rather let him think me cruel and unfair than letting myself stand at the sidelines and watch him go down."
Luna stared at him for some moments longer, her eyes filling with compassion.
"I know you do." she said softly. "But teaching him though helping hands might be more successful than through bitterly spoken words."
Tiberius remained silent at that.
"After all, today was a success, was it not?"
"A divine dispensation." Tiberius was quick to correct, the harshness back in his voice. "Fortune favors fools."
"A success nonetheless." Luna retorted stubbornly, her serious expression never faltering.
When Tiberius wouldn't answer, Luna continued.
"The streets are full of praises for your home, Tiberius." she said. "They say the Gods have blessed the House of Tadius – claim the Thracian to be a gift sent by the Gods to honor you and your family."
Tiberius let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.
"And what does the High Priestess think?" he asked, his lips slightly lifted into a sad smile. "Are we blessed?"
Luna returned the smile, her eyes glistering.
"I have watched the Thracian resist certain death several times now." she told him. "It does not take a High Priestess to realize that the Gods have plans for this man."
"And what would those plans entail, I wonder?" Tiberius asked with genuine interest.
Luna's gaze wandered towards the great window, her eyes full of questions of their own as she stared into the cloudy sky.
"The Gods only rarely reveal their plans to the mortal mind." she mused thoughtfully. "But whatever it is, his fate surely is intertwined with this house's."
Tiberius titled his head to the left, thinking about the High Priestess' words.
"Dominus." Saphir's voice from the entrance startled him out of his deep thoughts.
His son's body slave was standing there, the tall dark-haired gladiator from Thrace close behind him.
"I shall take my leave now." Luna said, bowing her head respectfully at the old Roman general. "There is much to do until tonight's celebration."
Tiberius smiled at her and nodded his head.
His eyes then focused on Saphir and the gladiator.
With one swift movement of his hand, he signaled his son's body-slave to retract, leaving him and the Thracian gladiator alone.
Endymion stood at the entrance, his stance proud while a slight hint of confusion was written across his face as he looked at the older man in front of him.
Tiberius couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle at this.
"You seem confused." he observed and couldn't keep the amusement from his voice.
Endymion's posture relaxed a little, sensing that the man in front of him meant him no harm. Having a closer look, he even seemed a little familiar.
"Forgiveness." he said in a strong voice. "I was told the Dominus requested my presence."
The amused smile on Tiberius' face broadened.
"That he did." Tiberius agreed. "And he is standing in front of you, gladiator."
Endymion furrowed his brow for a moment before realization dawned on his tanned face. He immediately bowed his head in submission.
"Forgiveness, Dominus." he said lowly. "I did not recognize you."
Tiberius let out a soft chuckle and placed a hand on Endymion's shoulder, surprising the Thracian with its strength. The gladiator slowly looked up, only to be met with a pair of friendly blue eyes.
"And how could you?" he told him, smiling. "We've never met before. No harm done."
He then turned around, moving towards a table with goblets, filing two of them with wine.
Endymion drew his brows together as he watched him. Serenity had sometimes talked about her father. From what she had told him, Tiberius was a respectable general, a skilled warrior and one of the most successful military leaders throughout the entire Roman history. Her beautiful eyes never failed to light up with happiness and love whenever she would speak of him – and more than once had Endymion wondered how she could love a man of war that much like she loved her father.
Taking in the man in front of him, a wave of understanding washed through him. He did not know for sure, but Endymion had a feeling that Tiberius was a kind man. Something about him told the Thracian that this man had gained glory through strategy rather than ruthlessness, and that he had earned the respect through deeds of mercy rather than those of blood.
He was brought out of his deep thoughts when Tiberius presented him with a goblet filled with rich red wine, his eyes friendly as he wordlessly encouraged him to take it – which he did.
"I am impressed, Thracian." he told him while sipping his wine. "Not many would have slain the Shadow of Death. Your glory is well-deserved."
"I would be dead." Endymion replied firmly. "If not for Malachite."
He looked straight into Tiberius' eyes as he added: "It was him who blinded Theokoles with his helmet. If not for him, I would no longer wander the world of the living."
Tiberius titled his head to one side, looking at the Thracian for a moment with a thoughtful expression.
The older man then let out a soft chuckle, a wave of new respect darting over his face.
"You are a good man." he told him. "A man of honor. Many would have claimed the victory as their own."
"It has nothing to do with honor." Endymion argued firmly. "It would be wrong to suggest otherwise. Capua's people witnessed the truth. They saw how Theokoles was defeated."
"A dear boy…" Tiberius sighed with a shake of his head. "The people's truth is what they want it to be. And it often has little to do what really happened. You are a God now, boy – the 'Bringer of Rain' as the people call you. The new Champion of Capua – a title that is well-deserved if I might add."
Endymion remained silent for a bit before he answered.
"I feel honored." he said. "But I care little for titles. It was not the reason for me to fight."
Tiberius nodded his head in agreement.
"Of that I know." he told him. "Artemis told me about your sister."
"Then you surely know about the deal I had with Praetor Seiya." Endymion said, his eyes hard. "He promised to give her back if I chose to fight."
"And fight you did." Tiberius agreed. "Even more than that."
"He will not retreat from his promise?" Endymion asked, a slight sparkle of hope in his eyes.
"I came to know the Praetor as an honorable man, gladiator." The older man said, smiling a little at the objection that briefly flared up within the Thracian's eyes. "He will keep his promise. Your sister is already on her way to Capua."
Endymion's mouth dropped open, his blue eyes wide with shocked surprise.
"Raye … she … she is already on her way?" he whispered, the disbelief thickly woven into his voice.
Tiberius smiled and nodded his head in assurance.
"While we are speaking." he told him. "She will arrive in a few days. My daughter Serenity requested her to become one of her body-slaves. She will be in good hands."
Relief made Endymion's heart flutter with joy, and his hands trembled a little.
"I know." he breathed softly before realizing his mistake.
Tiberius' brows furrowed a little in confusion.
Endymion cleared his throat before adding quickly: "The Domina … she… she is said to be very kind to her slaves. I am sure she will treat my sister with equal gentleness."
The confusion on Tiberius' face turned to a look of softness and utter love.
"For sure." he said with a gentle smile on his tanned face. "I doubt there is a more loving, more caring soul in this world than my Serenity's. A rare creature – especially in a world like ours."
Endymion watched as the tender smile on the general's face turned a little sad, his eyes clouding with worry as he spoke of the silver-haired beauty.
But before Endymion could wonder any further, the strange expression on Tiberius' face vanished and was replaced by one of kindness.
"There is a celebration tonight." he suddenly said. "To honor your victory over Theokoles – and to thank the Gods for sending rain. I want you to be there, to enjoy yourself."
Endymion's eyes furrowed in confusion.
"A celebration?" he echoed with suspicion in his voice.
"Yes." Tiberius affirmed with a nod and a smile. "You will be the guest of honor. There a people who wish to meet you – powerful people from Rome."
"Will Preator Seiya be there?" Endymion asked, his eyes slightly narrowed.
Tiberius stared at him for a moment before he let out a soft sigh.
"Yes, he will be there." he said. "But as I know that there is a little … tension … between you two, I will make sure he will not bother you tonight."
Tiberius took another sip of wine, his eyes dancing with mischief as he looked at Endymion.
"Besides…" he chuckled lowly. "The Praetor already assured me that he'd use his precious time much more wisely by focusing his attention rather on my daughter than on you. Just keep your distance from him, and everything will be fine."
Tiberius walked past Endymion and called for Saphir to prepare the gladiator for the evening.
Would he have glanced at Endymion's face just one more time, he would have seen the deep frown on the other man's face.
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He was leaning casually against one of the villa's thick pillars, his blue eyes dancing with amusement as he watched the silver-haired beauty. A smile pulled on his lips as she shoved her brown-haired body-slave between herself and a stubby and rather persistent Roman noble man. He saw the relief flicker across her flawless skin, the beauty obviously happy that she had finally managed to escape the drunken fool. Only two steps further, however, and she stumbled against another Roman male, a slender boy – drunk and of high spirits as he tried to convince her to dance with him. Even from the distance, he could see the internal struggle play across her face – the polite beauty torn between good breeding and a great deal of annoyance.
"It seems you are not unrivaled, brother." His youngest brother who had appeared to his left chuckled with amusement.
Seiya let out a dismissive snort.
"Foolish boys." he chuckled and shook his head.
He watched as Serenity desperately tried to get her body-slave's attention to save her from the young brown-haired man.
"They surely have no idea how to handle her."
"Oh, and you do?" another voice said with amusement.
Seiya glanced to his right to see Taiki standing next to him.
"I might be wrong, Seiya, but nor does the young Domina really fawn on you." the brown-haired man said with a challenging smirk. "Why so confident, I wonder?"
"True." Yaten was quick to agree. "I didn't see her look your way even once today."
Seiya rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"I barely had time to speak to her." The black-haired defended. "Her brother never leaves her side when I'm around. And her father, too, watched her like a hawk during the Pluvia."
"I'm surprised he even invited us today." Taiki sighed, a hint of accusation in his voice as he looked at his brother. "I already feared he had detected your… clever plan."
"Spare your breath if it's filled with nothing but sarcasm, brother." Seiya growled at the other man, his eyes narrowed. "The plan would have worked if that damned Thracian…"
"Hadn't been blessed by the Gods?" Yaten offered with a sly smile on his lips.
"Coincidence!" Seiya replied sharply, his eyes settling onto the ebony-haired man across the room.
The Thracian.
"Accept it, brother." Taiki sighed with boredom coloring his voice as he followed his brother's gaze. "Your plan failed – even backfired. Both gladiators are alive, and the House of Tadius is richer than ever before. Neither Tiberius nor Diamond will be forced to sell the Ludus to you any time soon. Leave it and concentrate on your legions instead. I never understood why you wanted this Ludus to begin with. It is quite ... ordinary."
Seiya glared at him, but remained silent.
His reasons were his own.
His eyes moved back to look at the silver-haired beauty. She was still standing with the tall boy who appeared to besiege her more and more.
It was when the boy leant in a little bit too close that the Praetor chose to intervene.
"If you'll excuse me." he addressed both brothers with a smirk playing at his lips.
With an elegant movement, he grabbed two goblets of wine and walked towards the beauty and her admirer.
"My lady Serenity." he adressed her with a charming smile while offering her one of the goblets. "My apologies for taking so long. My brothers needed to discuss with me a topic of great importance and kept me from returning as quickly as I promised. Please forgive me."
Confusion washed over the beauty's face, her eyes flickering between the man's face and the offered goblet. Seiya's smile broadened a little, his eyes shining with mischief as he kept staring at her. It took Serenity only a second to understand.
"Praetor." She addressed him with a shiny smile on her face that made his world stop for a moment.
She then accepted the drink with a graceful movement of her hands and nodded her head a little in gratitude.
"Do not worry." she chirped, her eyes mirroring the mischief in his own. "Good Sabinus here was kind enough to offer me company while I was waiting."
Seiya glanced with amusement at the slender slip of a man who was standing next to them, a look of confusion on his boyish face.
"Sabinus." he greeted the other man politely. "From the house of Cicilia, am I correct? Are you still serving in the army of the honorable General Licinius at the Western boarder?"
The boy's body stiffened a little, and his face paled.
"No, Praetor Seiya." he said hoarsely while his skin flushed with something close to shame. "My father wanted me to pursue a more political career in Rome."
Seiya raised his brows at that, his mouth shaping into a surprised 'o'.
Sabinus cleared his throat awkwardly while his ears kept turning darker shades of pink.
"Speaking of…" he said while running an irritated hand through his blond locks. "I should look where my father is."
"I think I saw him somewhere close to the rose gardens." Seiya was quick to inform. "You should go there and look for him. He seemed a little drunk, if I might add. And we wouldn't want our dear Roman nobles here to see your father in such a state like this, now, would we?"
If possible, the other man's face paled even further while his ears deepened in crimson color.
He quickly shook his head in agreement, said his goodbyes to Serenity and the Praetor and vanished into the crowd.
"The rose gardens?" Serenity asked with raised brows and an amused smile on her lips. "This must be quite a hidden place for not even my family knows about such a thing in our own home."
A low chuckle rumbled through Seiya's chest. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he shrugged his shoulders.
"I wonder how long it will take for good Sabinus to figure this out." he grinned. "Besides, I watched some slaves drag his passed-out father's body to the carriage not long ago. His son will be quite desperate to find a man here who is long sleeping safe and sound in his bed at home."
Serenity couldn't help the giggle that bubbled from her lips.
"Then it was quite an ill-mannered thing to do to send good Sabius on such a difficult quest." she chided softly, but her eyes danced with amusement.
Seiya shrugged his shoulders anew in nonchalance.
"He was obviously bothering you, my lady." he explained with a charming smile. "It was the right thing to do to be the hero and rescue you."
Serenity offered him a grateful smile and nodded.
"I thank you, Praetor."
"Please, just call me Seiya." The man was quick to correct. "Praetor sounds much too formal for an occasion like this."
Serenity just nodded her head in agreement. Seiya watched her as her crystal eyes scanned the room of people. She slowly sipped on her wine, and the Praetor's eyes darkened with lust as he watched how the crimson delicacy wetted her plump lips. His nose caught the faint scent of vanilla and roses – exotic and delicious. He couldn't help but move closer to where she was standing. She did not even seem to notice as her eyes were firmly fixed on a spot at the other side of the room. Seiya followed her gaze, only to see her father and the Thracian stand next to a bunch of chubby men and women.
"I am glad that your father invited my brothers and myself for tonight." Seiya said as he tried to win Serenity's attention back. "He appeared quite displeased during the Primus today."
Serenity's head quickly turned, her blue eyes narrowed as she stared at him
"Rightly so." she said, her sweet voice suddenly tainted with coldness. "After all, it was you and Rubeus who tricked my brother into agreeing to sacrifice our best men today."
"My dear Serenity." Seiya addressed her soothingly, a spark of irritation in the depth of his blue eyes at the sudden cold demeanor. "I assure you that I only wanted to help Capua. There was no ill-intention behind my actions."
Serenity eyed him with cool eyes for a moment before she spoke.
"I do not know what your intentions were, Praetor." The beauty told him coldly. "But I do believe that you were quite disappointed that Endymion came out of his unharmed and victorious."
She abruptly turned away, clearly intending to leave him with those parting words.
But Seiya quickly grabbed her wrist, causing a shock gasp to escape her mouth as he whirled her back around.
"I assure you, Serenity." he told her firmly while staring intently into her eyes. "Whatever you think my intentions were, you are wrong. I would never try and harm your brother or this house."
"And Endymion?" she hissed like a cat, her blue eyes narrowed to slits.
Seiya's mouth fell open, the words readily on his tongue, but no sound would escape his mouth.
Serenity quickly pulled her hand free and took a determined step away from him.
"I thank you for your assistance with Sabinus earlier, Praetor." she told him politely. "But do not think for a second that I would believe your words of innocence."
With that, she turned around and made her way towards her father and the Thracian gladiator, leaving Seiya behind.
"Another rejection, brother?" his youngest brother's amused voice sounded from his left.
Seiya's lips curled into a smirk as he stared after her.
"Not at all." he replied with something close to satisfaction in his voice. "She's just a feisty one. I admire that in a woman."
Taiki who had appeared on his right chuckled in amusement.
"Quite a delusional way to describe that she does not like you, brother." He said.
Seiya rolled his eyes at his brown-haired brother.
"She just needs some time to warm up to me, brother." he told him and shrugged his shoulders in nonchalance.
Seiya suddenly felt dark eyes bore into his skin and looked up only to stare straight into a raging gaze of a deep blue color.
The Thracian was staring at him– glaring at him from across the room with all the hatred in this world within his gaze.
Despite himself, Seiya's lips curled into a cold smirk.
The Thracian may have ruined everything.
But he would die soon enough.
He would make sure of that.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"It is quite an improvement, wouldn't you agree Endymion?" Tiberius' words reached him, forcing Endymion to quickly refocus his attention on the Dominus.
He had seen the interaction between Serenity and the Praetor, had watched with raging jealousy pulsing through his veins as his beauty had giggled and laughed with the black-haired Roman. His fingers automatically had clenched to fists. Why would she do such a thing?
"Endymion?" Tiberius addressed him once again, his old eyes filling with expectation.
"Forgiveness, Dominus." Endymion replied, offering the Dominus an apologetic smile. "My mind was occupied for a moment."
Tiberius chuckled and nodded his head in understanding.
"Good Octavius here was wondering about the gladiator's accommodations. I told him that you will be given a cell away from the prisons, now that you are the new Champion of Capua. It's quite the improvement. Located right next to the training grounds and a place all to yourself."
Endymion nodded his head. Artemis had already informed him about this new … home.
"It surely is an improvement." he agreed politely.
He was about to say more, but the words got lost somewhere between his throat and lips. He sensed her before he even saw her. A whisper of vanilla and roses in the air – a gentle brush of light against his skin. The spark of happiness that appeared within Tiberius' eyes, causing his entire face to look younger within moments.
"Serenity." the Dominus addressed his daughter, the name on his lips making Endymion's body both to tense and relax.
"My lovely daughter, how good to see you."
Endymion watched as Tiberius wrapped his arms gently around her petite form, pulling her closer. Serenity's face shone with happiness as she placed a soft kiss onto her father's right and left cheek.
Her gaze then moved to look at Endymion. He stared at her intently, his blue eyes darkening automatically at the sight of her. It was a look that colored her skin with a faint blush, and she quickly averted her gaze.
A part of him felt disappointment at her behavior. But he knew that he needed to control himself when others were around – especially her father and brother. If any of them became suspicious … Endymion dared not even to imagine what the consequences could be.
Tiberius introduced her to the noble men and women next to them, and Serenity greeted each of them with a polite nod. Endymion watched how the men's eyes lit up with admiration and lust as they looked at her, while the women's gazes were narrowed with suspicion and jealousy. The young Thracian had to stop himself from laughing out loud at the female expressions as they noticed how their husband's lecherous looks.
None of them had the faintest idea that she had already been claimed – that Endymion had already tasted the forbidden and delicious fruit that she was.
That she was his. Body and soul.
"Endymion, did you know that it was my Serenity's plea that rescued you from the executions back then?" Tiberius asked with a hint of pride in his voice.
Endymion first looked at Serenity's shocked eyes before he turned his attention to her father, a charming smile on his lips as he replied.
"So I was told." he said. "And I vowed to dedicate myself to pleasing the Domina in order to repay this debt. As long as she wants me."
Saying the last part, he looked back at her, watching in amusement how the faint blush on her skin increased in color.
Tiberius – oblivious to the double-meaning of Endymion's words – clapped him on his back while laughing heartily.
"He is quite unique, wouldn't you say?" he addressed the noble men and women around them. "A man with a sense of debt and pride. A man of honor!"
The people around them laughed and agreed while clicking their goblets of wine together.
"A man of honor, you say?" a cold voice cut into cheerful atmosphere.
All eyes turned to look at Diamond, the young Dominus, who was staring with cold indigo eyes at his father.
Endymion immediately felt the change of mood in the air. The group of people immediately stilled, their eyes focused on the interaction between father and son – no doubt simply to gather some more gossip to bring back to their boring life back in Rome.
"Diamond." Tiberius said firmly, shaking his head a little as if to signal him not to go any further.
Diamond's eyes narrowed, his body tensing distinctly.
He had already opened his mouth when another voice stopped him.
"Serenity." a young woman with short, almost blue hair addressed the confused beauty.
The woman wore a gentle smile on her lips, her eyes sparkling with wisdom and gentleness.
"As the High Priestess Luna told me you are said to have quite the magnificent singing voice." The young lady said. "I would love to hear it if you do not mind?"
Endymion felt how Tiberius' body next to him relaxed.
"Lady Ami!" he exclaimed happily. "What a wonderful idea! My daughter's voice has always indeed rivaled a siren's call. And it has only improved during her time at Selene's Temple."
Serenity laughed softly, shaking her head.
"My father tends to exaggerate." she corrected with a soft smile directed at her father. "But I feel honored by your request, Lady Ami. I would love to share my favorite song with you."
Her eyes then moved to settle onto Endymion, and his skin tingled with excitement as he felt her gaze on him.
"To honor the great Endymion." she whispered. "The Bringer of Rain."
A harp was brought to the room, and with one lasting glance at the Thracian gladiator, Serenity stepped into the center of the room.
Tiberius' face was filled with pride and love as he announced his daughter's performance to honor the Gods and Endymion – the God of the Arena.
She looked shyly at the crowd of people that had gathered around her – a small smile on her face.
"This is a song the High Priestess Luna taught me." she announced softly, her eyes filling with love as she looked at the woman in question.
"It is a song about Pandia – the daughter of Zeus and the moon Goddess Selene. Selene sent her daughter to earth so she could live the life of a normal girl and woman and to find love at least once before it was time for her to accept her duty as goddess. There were many suitors – but there was only one human who managed to capture her heart. They were happy, they were in love. Until Pandia had to return to the heavens. The love she found in this world set her heart aflame – a light of pure love. She carried this love to the heavens and became the Goddess of Light. Because the most beautiful light that could be found in this world… is love."
Her eyes met his for the briefest of moments, before she closed them and began to play.
Endymion couldn't help but stare at her as her slender fingers danced gracefully across the harp's thin strings, filling the air with the melody of the Gods.
She looked truly like the Goddess that she had been talking about. Silver hair that was falling down in gentle waves around her petite body, her skin white as marble. A Goddess of Light – a Goddess of Love.
Endymion leant in a little – the Thracian not being able to resist the natural attraction that seemed to pull him closer.
And then … then she started to sing.
"Silver light
She turned her face up to the starlit sky
And on this night began to wonder why
She knew that soon the day would come
Born to be
An heir of beauty and serenity
Into this world she entered quietly
To her surprise she was the one
Destiny was close behind her
Phantom of borrowed life
And the sea was a reminder
Mirror of given light
Then one day
The sign she'd waited for in skies of grey
Traversed a winding road and came her way
She found the love she hoped she would
But she knew
That she had promises to stay true to
The dormant daughter of the silver moon
Then all at once she understood
Destiny was close behind her
Phantom of borrowed life
And the sea was a reminder
Mirror of given light
From the sky
She watched the life
She'd known she would leave behind
Said goodbye
And gave her people
Life through her sacrifice.
.
Her voice floated through the silent room. Her words filling the stony hall. When the last tune was played, Endymion's heart began to beat again.
"Beautiful." Someone next to him whispered.
Startled, he turned his head to see the Praetor Seiya standing next to him.
And for the first time, the Praetor did not even seem to notice the Thracian's presence. No, his full attention was focused on the beauty in the middle of the room.
And for the first time, there was no hint of lust on the Praetor's face.
No.
Lust had been replaced by something else.
By something that made Endymion's heart stop for the second time that evening.
.
.
.
.
.
.
He pressed her further into the wall, his kisses hot and feverish against her skin as he took her like a God would.
A God and his Goddess.
That was what they were.
Her moans of pleasure were music to his ears.
"Endymion" she whispered. "Please…"
She begged him.
Yes, she should beg him.
His Goddess. His Siren.
Praetor Seiya's face flashed before his mind's eye, causing Endymion to let out a low growl of annoyance.
He pushed them away from the wall, only to place his Goddess onto the small table nearby.
Serenity arched her back, pushing her still covered breasts against his chest. Endymion ripped the fabric from her body, his mouth immediately finding one pert, perfect peek and sucking on it.
The beauty beneath him gasped in pleasure, her hands on his shoulders tightening, her fingernails digging into his skin.
Endymion tightened his hold on her as he held her lower body pressed to the hard table. He pushed into her. Over and over again, his cock hard and determined to mark her. Her hot channel gripped him tightly, making him lose control.
He freed himself from her grasp, his right hand possessively on her right breast as he pressed her down. Her eyes opened, the crystal blueness alive with lust and love and pleasure as she looked up at him through heavy-lidded eyes. He felt how she tried to sit up, as she tried to get their bodies closer once again. But he held her down, his blue eyes dark with desire and determination as he looked down at her.
The erotic sound of slapping skin and the delicious music of pleasure-filled moans filled the Capua's Champion's cell.
Her gasps and moans spurred him further on, his rhythm frantic and relentless. Punishing.
She closed her eyes again, throwing her head back. Another moan. Another sound of music.
A siren's call.
A siren's call that made men fall in love with her.
That made him fall in love with her.
His grip tightened possessively.
Another wave of anger surged through him – his eyes darkening with the color of possessiveness.
Endymion pulled out of her, and the short protesting sound from Serenity's sweet lips was immediately silenced when the gladiator turned her quickly around, his hands tightening on her hips as he entered her again. He wrapped one strong arm around her chest, pulling her upwards and flush against him as he pounded into her from behind.
His mouth was against her ear, his hot breath making her shudder as she heard his pants and moans.
"Tonight…" he whispered hoarsely, the harsh rhythm of his thrusts making her breasts bounce. "Tonight there are no Gods, Serenity."
The beauty's hands went up to his arm that was wrapped around her chest as if to search for any support.
"Tonight, there is only you and me."
Her fingers dug deeply into his skin, the beauty helpless in his grasp.
"Endymion…" she sighed, her voice hoarse from moans and screams.
"I am your God, you are my Goddess, Serenity." Endymion panted, his hold around her tightening.
"Say it, Serenity." He urged, his thrusts gaining in speed. "Say that you are mine."
"Yes." She whispered softly while her body filled with the pleasure only he could give her. "Only you and me."
"Just for tonight." She heard his desperate pant.
She turned her head a little so that he could look at him, a faint smile on her lips.
"Forever." whispered his siren, his Goddess.
His love.