It's been a hot minute. Enjoy this and I will conclude this story with two more chapters. Thank you for following along!
One Step Forward, Two Steps Backward
Callisto walked to the back of the female barracks and smiled at the guard standing by the wine cellar. She sauntered over and fluffed her wavy blonde locks and he looked her way, already scowling. He did not appear to want to play any games with her. She stood in front of the tall muscular guard with his chest exposed, she traced her slender fingers along his pectoral muscles.
He gazed at the wall so he would not be distracted by her. "What do you want, Callisto?"
She snickered and leaned her body up against his large frame. "I want you to do a little favor me, Galix."
"I'm not interested in doing you any favors," he felt her fingers glide along his bare skin and close his eyes briefly to compose himself. The wiry blonde grinned deviously and slid her fingers in between his legs and his eyes enlarged, clenching his jaw.
"Oh? I know you simply adore the little gladiatrix, Olympia." She said and he peered down at her nervously. "Oh yes. I know what you two have been doing. I'd hate to have to report you to Pompey. He would be very disappointed in you, Galix. Slipping yourself inside the small gladiatrix and she drinks her special tea every other night. Yes, I know."
He swallowed and beads of sweat dripped down his backside. "What do you want?" he asked firmly.
"Bring Gabrielle to the wine cellar. We have important things to discuss. Privately," she said with a deadpan expression. "Listen, you do this for me and I won't squeal to Pompey about Olympia. Do we have a deal or not?" she crossed her arms.
Galix took in a deep breath and unlocked the wine cellar gate and stepped inside, closing the gate behind him and locking it. She gripped the iron rods and smiled. "This meeting between you and Gabrielle will be brief."
"Of course." She nodded affirmatively and he walked up the stairs, entering the villa. "Thanks, you're a doll, Galix!" she called up and he disappeared. She sighed and turned around, lightly banging her head against the gates, waiting patiently.
Xena wrapped her wrists out on the field and gazed up at the villa balcony. There she saw Julia and her female slave next to her but she did not see Gabrielle. She frowned and watched Julia glare at her as she sipped her sweet wine. Sweet wine for such a bitter woman. Julia smiled and stood up from the chaise lounge and leaned over the balcony.
Taunting, the Thracian thought. The daughter of Caesar was almost as hideous as her father. She was attractive enough, which was probably one of the reasons Caesar offered her hand in marriage to his friend, Pompey. Xena looked away and continued wrapping her wrists, ready to spar with the males. She shall give the pompous woman quite a show.
She snatched a wooden sword and spotted Ares drinking from the water well. He gave her an enticing smile and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. She knew that she was just a pawn to the Romans just as much as she was a pawn to the champion of Rome. He was a great fighter, good in bed too, despite her doubts, but she had to remain focused on the goal.
He walked over to her, twirling the weapon in his hand with such grace. It was like he was born with a sword attached to his hip. "Xena, the mighty Thracian," he teased her and she thrust her wooden sword forward, nearly scraping his bare skin. "You remember our deal, don't you?"
"I will keep my end of the deal if you keep yours," she said and retracted the weapon. "Did you tell your males about my plan?"
"Not yet..." he raised his sword into the air and swung at her and she blocked it with her gauntlet. He chuckled and they circled around each other, their eyes locked, studying one another carefully.
"I'm counting on you to keep your promise, Ares."
He pushed her away and winked at her. They both continued to circle, digging their boots into the heavy hot sands. "One night with me and you expect me to follow through with your little plan? Not a chance, Xena. A few more nights with me and I will consider telling the others about your...what did you call it? Oh right, your proposition."
"I'm a woman of my word, Ares." She grabbed his arm and he grabbed hers. Pulling him close she bore her eyes into his dark brown marbles. "Are you a man of your word? Can I trust you?"
"Trust is a strong word, Xena. I don't think we know each other well enough to trust each other. Do you?"
"You seemed to know me very well last night," she combated and he nodded, slipping in closer.
Adonis interrupted the two, placing his sword in between their faces. Xena shoved Ares in the chest and he grunted, rubbing his pectorals and glared at the blonde gladiator. "I'd like to spar with Xena if you don't mind sharing her?"
"She's all yours," the champion motioned his hand to her and she scoffed, stepping back.
"The bitch of Thrace," Adonis remarked with a chuckle and she shot him a glare and twirled her sword, digging her boots into the sand. "Our champion has been smitten with you since you showed up. Even some of the females fancy you. Say, like...Gabrielle."
She tried not to let this arrogant gladiator get into her head. Her eyes briefly darted to the balcony and still, Gabrielle was absent. She focused on Adonis in front of her and gripped her practice sword. "Are you going to talk all day or spar with me?"
"I heard that you do more than spar with the men," he said and her eyes narrowed. He inched closer to her and grabbed her arm, backing her into the wall. He pushed all of his weight against her and stepped on her boot. Her breathing escalated and he whispered in ear, "whore."
Sorso glanced over at Adonis accost Xena in the corner of the field. He grimaced and all the other gladiators turned to see the two pinned to the wall. "Adonis!" he yelled and unraveled his whip.
Xena growled and head butted the blonde gladiator and then drove the wooden sword through his shoulder. He cried out loudly in agony and his male cohorts laughed loudly as blood poured down his chest. She pushed the blade deeper into his flesh and he cringed, trying to hide the excruciating pain he was enduring.
Sorso cracked his whip against Xena's back and she fell to the ground and dug her fingernails into the sand, taking in the stinging pain on her back. "What is going on here?!" he yelled and she exhaled heavily and slowly rose from the hot sands. She heard the males snickering from behind her and whipped her head around to the bleeding Adonis.
She grabbed her sword and pulled it out of his shoulder wound and then climbed on top of him and plunged the wooden blade into his gut. He gasped and clutched the hilt of her sword.
"Xena!" the whip master shouted and she ignored him, twisting the blade in Adonis' gut wound. "Xena! Enough!" he cracked the whip against her spine again and she winced, though she did not let go of the sword, staring into Adonis' pleading eyes.
Sorso grabbed her by the arm and flung her off to the side. He gazed down at Adonis in his own pool of blood and shook his head in disgust. "You killed one of our finest gladiators," he said and the other men stood in silence, staring at Adonis with the wooden sword plunged into his torso, bleeding to death.
"You will have to answer to Pompey and Caesar. Get up!" he snarled and slowly she stood up, wary of her sore lashed backside. He clutched her arm firmly and Ares kicked himself off the wall and saw Sorso pulling Xena off the field.
"Where are you taking her?" he asked and Sorso halted.
He spun around, glaring at the champion. "You wish to accompany her, Spartan?" he asked and Ares looked down at Adonis and then at Xena. "Very well. Come with me," he ordered and Ares followed behind him.
Xena looked over her shoulder at the Spartan with a bemused expression and he faintly smiled at her.
Gabrielle walked down to the wine cellar, escorted by Galix. He pushed her forward and she grunted, shrugging his hand off her shoulder. "Do not touch me, Roman."
"Hurry it up!" he said and she stepped off the final step into the cellar and frowned upon seeing a woman she didn't want to see.
"Callisto," she said flatly.
The thin blonde turned around and clung to the iron bars. "Little Gabby. How ya doin?" she chided and Gabrielle folded her arms. "I've come to bring you a message from Xena."
The petite blonde's heart palpitated and she uncrossed her arms and took a step forward, a dangerous step towards the wiry one. "What is it?"
"She wanted me to tell you that the plan is a go ahead."
Gabrielle raised her eyebrow confusedly. Surely, Xena did not tell this heinous woman about the plan to overthrow this ludi and the Romans? "What plan?"
Callisto snickered, "don't play coy with me, Gabrielle. She told me all about the plan. She trusts me," she gave her opponent a wink and sneaky grin. Leaning her body against the iron rod gate, she licked her lips and Gabrielle cringed in disgust. "Don't worry I will take good care of her for you, Gabby."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well," Callisto began and tapped her chin. "She agreed to come to my cell as long as I keep the plan under wraps." Her dark eyes lit up and Gabrielle's mouth parted. "Jealous, huh? Don't be. I'm sure she fancies you much more than she does me."
"That is a lie."
"It is not!" Callisto spat, feeling a bit insulted. "Listen Gabby, I just came here to deliver the message." She turned and began walking away.
Gabrielle ran forward and grabbed the gate. "Wait!" she yelled and the thin gladiatrix turned on her heel. "There's going to be a bacchanalia soon. Caesar wants Xena and Ares there."
"Oh, how exciting!"
"Ladies, I don't have all day," Galix pressed as his nerves heightened. He feared that his superiors would catch him.
"Yeah, yeah. You remember our little deal?" Callisto eyed the worried guard and he averted his eyes to keep a lookout for anyone. She approached the gate and wriggled her fingers. "Do tell me more about this bacchanalia, Gabrielle."
She breathed in deeply and looked into those wily brown eyes opposite her. "Caesar wants Xena and Ares to have sex in front of everyone. He is going to force them to do it." Callisto let out a loud cackle and Gabrielle crinkled her nose at the maniacal woman. "What's so funny?"
The thin gladiatrix slowed her breathing and leaned her palm against the wall, chuckling softly. "Looks like she will have plenty of practice! She will have no problem performing in front of the Romans!"
Gabrielle stepped away from the cellar gate and felt nauseous. "What are you saying?"
"What I'm saying Gabby, is that those two were rolling around in bed like weasels last night," Callisto said with a menacing grin. She saw the horror on Gabrielle's face and laughed, digging her fingers into her hair. "Your face! I love it. Doesn't that make you want to kill Xena now? I bet it does."
"You're lying."
"Wish I was..." she sighed lightly. "Your information has been most helpful, Gabrielle. I will make sure to pass it on to Xena when I get a chance to see her." She clicked her tongue against her cheek and waltzed off down the hallway.
"Callisto!" Gabrielle yelled and watched the blonde saunter off. "Callisto!"
Galix grabbed her by the arm. "You need to get back to Lady Julia before she figures out you're missing." He said and began pulling her up the stairs.
"Let go of me!" she snarled and marched up the stairs, pushing him aside.
She ran to the slave quarters and Nara sat on the bed, sewing one of Julia's dresses. She ran to a bucket and dropped to her knees then immediately vomited. Nara gasped and set the dress down onto the bed. "Gabrielle? Are you okay?"
"No!" she spat back and wiped her mouth. "Stay away from me," she warned and Nara took a generous step backward.
"I saw you disappear with Galix," Nara said and sat back down onto the bed. "Where did you go?"
Gabrielle stood up and felt her stomach revolting against her again. "None of your business." She said and then heard Sorso enter the villa. She quickly ran out of the room and saw Sorso and a couple of Romans escorting Xena and Ares through the villa.
Xena glanced over and smiled faintly at Gabrielle then was pushed forward by one of the Romans. She kept her eyes locked on the blonde gladiatrix and saw that she did not appear to be happy at all. In fact, Gabrielle was burning with rage inside her. Her chest puffed out and she crossed her arms, glaring at the Thracian. Xena frowned sadly and then was pushed through a room by the Roman.
Ares looked towards Gabrielle's direction and winked at her. She huffed and marched towards him and then saw Julia making her way over and Gabrielle didn't stop. She followed the Romans into the next room.
Julia grimaced and walked after her slave. "Gabrielle!" she yelled, but the blonde didn't heed her word. "Gabrielle!"
She finally spun around to face the brash spoiled woman. "What do you want?" she snarled.
"You have no right to talk to me that way. You belong to me now." Julia smiled and saw the champion accompany Xena into Pompey's office. Presumably where her father was as well. "Oh I see. You want to see your Thracian. Well, you can't. Whatever she has done to get herself into trouble does not concern you. Come with me," she grabbed Gabrielle by the arm.
"I will not!" Gabrielle snatched her arm away and Julia's eyes widened and she gasped.
"How dare you! Do you not realize that you are a slave, Gabrielle? I can have you lashed for this and –"
Gabrielle smiled. "Yeah? Try me, Julia."
Julia growled and looked to the Roman guards. "Detain her!" she yelled and Gabrielle reacted quickly by pushing the Roman woman into the pool of water in the center of the villa. The Romans ran after her and Gabrielle panicked, running as fast as she could to the exit. Julia gasped and crawled out of the pool, her hair soaking wet and her gown heavy.
"Nara!" she griped. "Nara!" she shouted and stood up slowly, soaked from head to toe.
Nara came running out and rushed towards her mistress. "Miss Julia..."
"Bring me fresh clothes," she demanded and picked out the flower petals from her wet hair."Quickly!"
Julius Caesar chuckled and stepped forward as soon as Xena was brought in with Sorso and unexpectedly, Ares. Perfect timing, he thought. Pompey sat on the desk, watching Xena size up Caesar and spat at his boots in a way of showing her distaste for him.
"What has the Thracian done this time?" the prefect asked with a charming smile.
Sorso cleared his throat and grabbed Xena by her arm. "She killed Adonis today in the field."
Pompey's jaw dropped. "He is one of my best fighters!"
"Precisely." Sorso added and turned to Caesar. "What do you want me to do with her?"
The prefect stepped forward and pinched Xena's cheeks together and she showed her teeth, ready to bite him. He retracted his hand quickly and chuckled. "And why did you kill him, Xena? Surely you have a reason."
"He assaulted me," she answered.
"Assaulted? What did he do? Touch you?"
"He pinned me to a wall and called me a whore."
Caesar laughed and Pompey pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fantastic. Can't imagine why anyone would you call that. You are clearly above that station, aren't you Xena?" he slyly said and she gazed at the floor. His eyes traveled to the champion behind her. "And why is he here?"
Sorso fumbled and wasn't quite sure how to answer. "He wanted to come with her..."
"Excellent," Caesar smiled at the Spartan. "I will see to them both, Sorso. You may return to training the others," he waved his hand and the whip master frowned confusedly then bowed his head and left the office.
"Now," he began and stared at the two fighters. "Why did you come with her?" he asked Ares.
The champion stepped forward and stood beside Xena. He briefly shot her a look and she rolled her eyes. "I just thought...I should come with her. Adonis treated her poorly. I did not want you to punish her too severely."
"Oh please," Xena muttered under her breath.
Caesar nodded and looked over to his not so happy general. "Well, how generous of you," he eyed Ares. "Lucky for you both, I am not going to punish you even though I should..." he frowned at Xena and she shot him a mocking grin. "I'm inviting you both to a bacchanalia. Pompey has made the arrangements. Haven't you?"
"Yes," Pompey grumbled.
"So, the party will commence in two days. I will have some servants tend to you and make sure you are scrubbed," Caesar stepped toward Xena smelled her long hair. "You will be our honorary guests. How does that sound?"
Ares smiled faintly and Xena scowled at the Roman.
"Oh Xena, don't have that long face. You should smile more, especially since you're the guest of honor." He pat her cheek and she groaned, trying her best to keep her temper in check and her mind clear. Remain focused, she kept reminding herself.
"Why are we your guests of honor at this 'party'?" she so dangerously asked.
The prefect's eyes sparkled. "You'll find out. You may go now, you are –"
"Father!" Julia stormed into the office and Pompey gawked at his soaked wife. She wrapped the robe around her freshly steamed white gown and eyed Xena.
"What has happened to you?" Pompey approached his wife and brushed his thumb along her cheek.
"Gabrielle pushed me into the pool. I sent men after her," she said and heard a snort from the Thracian. "And it's all her fault!" she pointed at Xena.
Caesar frowned and he spun around to see the smugness upon his gladiatrix's face. "How could it possibly be Xena's fault? She's been in here the entire time."
Julia huffed and glared at the tall Thracian. "Because Gabrielle saw her and was about to approach her. I told her to attend to me and then she pushed me into the pool!"
"Perhaps you deserved it," Xena commented and Ares jabbed his elbow in her ribs to which she responded back with a slap to his arm.
"Alright, Xena," Julia approached her with wiry grin. "I won't punish you but I will punish Gabrielle. I give her many lashings until she learns how to behave."
Xena's upper lip quivered and she spat in the prefect's daughter's face and Julia gasped. She then was backhanded to the face by the mistress and Xena almost retaliated by raising her fist and Ares caught her wrist. He held her back and slowly began backing away from the enraged Roman woman.
"Take your hands off of me!" she threw her hands into the air and stormed out of the office. Ares sighed and ran after her.
Caesar smirked and looked at his furious daughter. She turned towards him and wiped the saliva off her cheek. "Have you nothing to say, father? She just spat in my face like an animal!"
"Her time will come. Pay no attention to her."
"Xena!" Ares called after her and she stormed out to the back door to enter the training field. "Xena!" he grabbed her arm and they were followed by two Roman guards. He looked at the two men looming over them and she pulled her arm from his grasp.
"What?" she hissed. "You had no right to hold me back. I could have pummeled her in a second."
"If you did that then you'd be dead."
"Better than being in this place," she scoffed and began walking down the stairs. He trailed behind her as did the two guards.
"Play their game, Xena and you will win," he said and placed a hand on her shoulder and forced her against the wall. He eyed the Romans and smiled. "Could you give us a moment?" he asked and pulled out a few coins from his pouch and handed it over to the two Romans.
She watched the Romans leave and she clocked the Spartan in the jaw. He moaned and rubbed his face. "I'm trying to help you!" he griped.
"No, you're not. You promised to tell the male gladiators about my plan and you have done nothing. Now we're supposed to act civil at this ridiculous bacchanalia and Caesar is going to make us do gods knows what!" she threw her hands in the air, expressing frustration.
"I will tell them as long as you keep your promise," he said in a low voice and she folded her arms.
Gabrielle ran past the villa and didn't even bother trying to find her way back to the barracks or training ground. She ran on a dirt road and breathed heavily. She climbed over a few rocks and looked behind her to see that the Romans were far behind. She grinned and hopped down onto the sandy soil and kept running.
She knew that if she kept following this road that she'd reach civilization soon and then the Romans would never be able to find her in the crowds. It had been so long since she left the ludi, except when they were in the arena, but even then, she wasn't among the common people. She was escorted by Pompey's minions until she reached the arena barracks below the stands.
Now, she was almost free. Free enough, she thought. But if she escaped then that meant she'd be leaving Xena behind. She had to go back eventually, but she couldn't go back now. Julia's men were hot on her trail and she'd have to keep running until she couldn't run anymore.
She didn't think that the Romans would be stupid enough to find her inside the city. That was her best bet until she could find a way to get back to the ludi and hopefully with some reinforcements to help Xena and the rest of the gladiatrices and gladiators escape. She had to find help and she needed to use her wit to find people that would follow her.
Surely, nobody in the city would recognize her because she wasn't from the Roman Republic. She ran down the dirt road and was already able to see horses ahead of her. A warm smile appeared on her face. Civilization. It had been so long. Too long, she thought.
Her smile faded when Ares crept into her mind. He had sex with Xena and she allowed it to happen. A dark overwhelming sensation filled her gut as she thought of the Spartan and Xena sharing a bed together. She never thought that Xena would let him to do that her, unless it was all part of the plan? Now, she didn't care about how the plan was going to unfold. Xena was resourceful and they would meet again.
One day. And that day couldn't come fast enough. Gabrielle only hoped that this plan Xena had was actually going to work and how would Callisto react to the take over? Would she slaughter everyone in sight? Or maybe she would listen to Xena's commands.
I'll come back for you.