Chapter Fourteen: Survivor's Scream
Naevia heard Nasir scream out Agron's name in the next building over and she jerked to her feet, as if to run to his aid. After losing Crixus in battle, Nasir had become confidant to Naevia, someone who shared her grief. Crixus gripped her hand and she paused, when Agron's words could be heard calming Nasir. She resettled against Crixus and he laid gentle lips against her temple and she smiled into the touch.
"We find ourselves at the call of new commander, and yet for opportunity to be in your arms once more I cannot find fault in choice."
Crixus chuckled, "Greer spoke of returning you to my arms, after the battle was finished and I found reason to live once more. I accepted death as it came for me on field of battle but then Greer came as angel to call me from clutch of death and here we are together once more. I cannot find fault it seems."
"It saddens heart to know Spartacus will not join this new life with us," Naevia responded quietly. The rebel commander had always been brother even in times when Crixus and Naevia were at odds with him. Even in the time before they split company, Naevia still counted Spartacus as dear friend.
"Oenomaus wondered on same concern, that Spartacus was not offered promise of new life but Greer went to our brother first because he was always the strongest and most clever of us all. Greer made offer but Spartacus refused, wishing only to join with Sura in the afterlife and seek peace after lifetime of blood and battle. He is the one who gifted Greer with the names of his most trusted fighters, the strongest of his men and women. Spartacus wished for us to have this chance. Greer told Oenomaus that he brought several others such as Sibyl and Melitta because they were beloved lovers of warriors meant to be freed from death and Spartacus wished for many of us to have opportunity to live as we never have before but only if we could carry our heart's desire through to the other side as well."
Naevia nodded in understanding, lifting Crixus's much larger hand in her own and pressing it close to her neck, his arm crossing her chest from her waist to neck. She turned her head and took his lips in gentle kiss, one they had not shared yet because they were in the company of others. Naevia knew her wound was still open in places, waiting for the healers to regain strength and seek each of those who still needed their gifts but she had only kissing on her mind. Crixus hands remained gentle, similar thoughts plaguing him as well.
She wished that this place was not so different, though from what the healer Claire told her it was the reason Naevia still lived but for once she could not feel Crixus thundering heart pressed against back and it created sense that they were indeed dead and merely being tricked by the gods, being told they were living. But then as long as Naevia and Crixus were together it wouldn't really concern her to be dead or alive.
Instead of hoping for things not in her power to change, Naevia focused on the lips still nibbling at her mouth, then slipping to her neck and down her shoulder. She reveled in the touch, finding life in them even if their hearts were stilled. For now it was all Naevia would focus on. Not cause for Nasir's cry even though she has never heard him cry out, not when he was burned to save his life or when he lost Agron. Nasir was with Agron as Naevia was with Crixus and they were all together once more with a chance for life.
Oenomaus found himself sitting in one of the large buildings where there were chairs and several beds around the room. He was sitting at the table and Melitta stood at his back, her fingers resting gently on his shoulder in rare contact since they saw themselves dissolved of Dominus arranged marriage. Gannicus was on one of the beds, Sibyl leaning against his chest. He watched his friend with his woman and knew this feeling far outshined whatever Gannicus had ever felt for Melitta. He had hugged her gently, happy to see her once more but his eyes had been on Sibyl since she was brought to him.
"I find myself in disbelief that you stayed with Spartacus," Oenomaus stated gently. Gannicus had never truly believed in the cause of Spartacus and the rebel army.
"I stayed for a long time to see you honored but then heart shifted within chest. I started fighting for the cause that Spartacus waxes poetic about because it slipped beneath flesh and found home within heart."
Oenomaus smiled at his brother glad to know he finally had something and someone to take up arms for. Now they would find there way again. Gannicus looked around the room they were in, "This does not appear to be where you rest your head?" he asked uncertainly.
Oenomaus looked to Melitta and she quickly shied away from his gaze and Gannicus watched it happening.
"What has occurred here?" Gannicus demanded as he stood up, moving Sibyl gently so he could.
"Oenomaus has chosen to give me right to choose, to stay honored wife or find myself alone once more."
Gannicus frowned at Oenomaus, "What madness is this?"
Oenomaus pushed Melitta's hand from his shoulder; there was no need to pretend for the sake of their friend now. "Melitta was given to me absent choice, if this life is truly about freedom then I would have her choose freely myself or another if that is her wish."
"Melitta what do you choose?" Gannicus demanded but Oenomaus held his hand up requesting pause.
"Do not demand answer in selfish desire for us all to be content in this new life, I am content to be among friends once more and given opportunity to serve greater cause."
Gannicus looked again to Melitta, "Are you well sister?" he asked her gently. It did Oenomaus' heart good to see Gannicus and Melitta given chance for renewal of friendship despite past transgressions.
Melitta smiled, "I am among my dear friends and given opportunity to make new friends. Despite sadness caused by Oenomaus' decision to give me true freedom, I find myself honored with first chance to have choice in life, I died having never known what all of you were able to experience in the Rebel army in the presence of Spartacus."
Gannicus smiled, it was the infectious look that had first drawn Oenomaus to his brother. Oenomaus, from a young age in the pits and coming to the House of Batiatus had never had great humor in life until he met and befriended Gannicus and it was that smile that constantly drew him in. He was blessed to have his brother close once more and would have chance to dictate his life from this point on despite the new cause they would fight for.
In another building when Nasir shouted, Castus stood and quickly started towards the door when Duro stepped into his path, "What do you imagine you can do for Nasir that my brother is not already doing?"
The Cilician pirate glared at the grinning gladiator who he first met when he woke in this place. He wished to be with Nasir, to see to him as he had since Agron was taken from the Syrian. Now the German shit was back and Castus was not even close to the little Syrian man that he spent his time wooing before death on the field.
"Your beast of a brother was gone and I saw to Nasir," Castus snapped at the brother.
"That beast is back and even I know that Nasir never preferred you to Agron," Duro laughed.
"No fight," Lugo said with an unimpressed snort towards the arguing men.
Saxa and Mira were also sitting on one of the other beds and Barca was leaning against one of the far walls. Donar was resting on a bed as well though he didn't still have wounds like Saxa, Nasir and Lugo. Gannicus had wounds as well but from what Castus saw, he hadn't been as weakened by the time he was brought to this place.
Castus didn't understand how they ended up here, really. He was bleeding on field of battle one moment and the next he was in this strange place with people he knew had died and others that he had heard stories of past warriors. Castus had only ever connected with Nasir in the rebel pack after the loss of his people to Heracleo's betrayal of Spartacus. Without Nasir here, he felt at odds with everything and knowing that Nasir was struggling made everything more difficult.
He had not even had opportunity to see Nasir when he first arrived, since the Syrian was knocked out. Then Agron swooped in quickly to reclaim place at Nasir's side. Castus resented the man who took him, promising Castus Nasir's presence but not warning of Agron's as well.
So he glared at Duro for another moment then reclaimed nearby chair. Duro moved to lean against another wall. They spent time getting to know each other since Duro and Barca; Castus has never known them as they both died before they even left from the ludus where Spartacus sprung from at the death of his Dominus. He found himself inching closer to Barca, the beast of a man who spoke very little. It was someone he didn't know and Duro was the brother of Agron, there was no chance there for him to become a companion. He no longer had his people; he did not have Nasir and would need alliance.
"You belonged to the House of Batiatus?" Castus questioned.
"I reigned as the Beast of Carthage, surviving to the last and was made a gladiator of Batiatus' ludus."
"Then your end came in the arena?" Castus questioned.
"No," Barca glared and turned to face Castus. The gladiator was about a head taller than the Cilician so he had to look up at the man with a tilt of his chin. "I tried to buy my freedom for myself and Pietros, Ashur the fucking Syrian sold me out to our Dominus and I was killed for it."
Castus nodded, "I have heard much of the Syrian shit Ashur, though I did not know his name. Nasir told me once that Crixus hated Nasir because he and Ashur shared same nation much like I shared with the Cilicians who betrayed Spartacus and caused much death to the rebel army."
"I have to meet this Nasir but I would be wary of any Syrian due to Ashur."
Castus nodded, "Nasir is a decent man and a strong warrior. I have seen him give everything to Spartacus cause."
"And Agron, the German who calls Duro brother?"
Castus grinned, "He is great enough to have Nasir despite my affections towards the Syrian warrior."
Barca nodded, "You would have him, this Nasir, if you were able?"
"I have accepted that even when Agron was gone, Nasir would have no intention towards me beyond friendship."
Barca grinned, "But would you take him if your were able?"
Castus smiled in return, "Yes I would."
Mira watched the others in the room, making new acquaintances and focused her attention on Saxa who was sitting next to her. "It is good to see you again Saxa."
"Mira, it is good to see you among living once more," Saxa responded gently. She smiled at the blond woman; it was interesting to hear her speak again after the separation of time and death. Her language was much better now, clearer but her voice was still the same. It was the same that shouted in German when she had an opinion and did not know how to say it in common language.
"What was it like, being a part of the Rebel Army instead of a small band of errant slaves?" she asked the fair haired German.
"Much Roman death till the end," Saxa responded with a feral grin. Mira never truly understood what kind of woman Saxa was under the need to spill blood and be the best warrior, always as good as any man. Mira had never had opportunity to spend much time with her away from the field of battle and the sparring matches that had them paired together.
"Gannicus?" Mira asked, watching Saxa closely.
She sighed sadly but smiled at Mira, "He with little one, I found another. Was with woman, Belesa before I fell in final battle. She was good but not love."
"Did you ever know love?" Mira asked, interested in the other woman.
Saxa laughed, "I know fucking, not love. Love too serious not fun."
Mira chuckled, "I suppose." She thought of her time as a slave when her body was used for the pleasure of her Domina, as well as the companionship she shared with Spartacus in which she was always desperate for more heart from him than he was able to give. There was nothing she had ever experienced that could be called love. Maybe she had more in common with Saxa than she had ever thought, though the German woman had never experienced slavery.
"To blood and fucking then," Mira said, bumping her shoulder against Saxa.
"To blood and fucking yes!" Saxa returned loudly, bringing the attention of others in the room to them before many shared a laugh at Saxa's shouted words.
Greer listened to all the Spartacus people in their buildings and beds, the laughter from some and the shout from the Syrian who seemed to be struggling with every breath since Greer brought him here.
They would need to get these people healed and get them back to the Vannas people. His people were getting through well enough but he'd seen the twins suffering with their powers and Claire and Ella were taking longer to get back to full power. He was still lagging as well so getting people back was going to take time.
The hard part was about to begin, bringing the gladiators back to his magical home and getting his people to start training without the help of their magic. It would go against everything they had ever been taught growing up and it would include trusting Greer's judgment as well strangers who weren't one of their people. It would be an interesting process.
Greer was pulled from his thoughts when Johnny came into the room, throwing down his sword and staff into the corner with a clatter and kicked off his boots before sitting on his cot and turning away from Greer. The whole motion took less than a minute and the younger man would not even look towards Greer.
"The silence is a little childish JJ," Greer said with a sad smile gracing his lips for a moment before he sobered again. It did not escape Greer's notice that Johnny looked tired, undoubtedly from the work it was taking to train with Oenomaus who had taken Johnny's training on personally, as though the Doctore needed to see Johnny survive this.
Johnny huffed in answer but his mind remained silent.
"I did not mean to abuse my powers, I did not mean to run headlong into trouble and hurt people in the process. I am sorry for what happened but I did the best I could to fix it."
Johnny still said nothing.
Greer sighed, "I do not know what you want from me Johnny, I am only a Vannas, imperfect and doing the best I can with the circumstances handed to me."
"I wish you could hear yourself when you talk like that Greer," Johnny whispered sadly into Greer's mind paired with a sad sigh from his lips but he did not turn towards Greer as he continued. "You sound arrogant and controlling, you believe only you have the right course of action and you must walk the path alone to succeed and that's not true. I am here with you, I hope you can try to find in your mind and heart that you don't have all the answers and you should trust us more. Maybe trust me more."
Greer grumbled under his breath, sounding more like a growl than anything then he spoke, "I do trust you Johnny, I hear what you're saying and I can only promise that I will attempt to hear you and others. Please look at me, I cannot stand you being mad at me."
Johnny finally flipped over and he met Greer's deep green eyes with his gaze dark with sadness and anger. "If you don't want me to be mad at you then please just trust some of the people around you to help and don't ever use your powers when you are mentally foggy. It's too dangerous and you know that!"
Greer nodded, knowing Johnny was right. His mother demanded that Greer never did anything that wasn't planned and prepared and completely in control. He climbed off his bed and wandered over and waited as Johnny moved a little and he slumped down into the cot. He moved close and pressed his nose into the side of Johnny's neck and took in the natural musk that clung to Johnny's skin and clothes, Greer sighed contently when Johnny's arm came around his shoulder and they stayed like that for a while, reminiscent of all the times they stayed close when they were younger. He hoped they could continue to be close to each of for the rest of their lives but feared it as well. He knew what kind of damage his mother did in her time with the need to control and her attempts to protect everyone.
With Johnny learning from a very young age to question those with power, including Akina, he didn't have to wonder why the little spitfire was brave enough to question the Prince's actions, he'd been doing it since he was six years old and Greer had always been glad for it.