A Thousand Suns Burn On

Chapter Thirty-Five

The heat was as sweltering that dawn as any other day. It should have been comforting, the knowledge that nothing had changed even after the world had lost a great man; a man who had more love for the sun than he did life itself… a man who had loved his daughter more than life itself. But despite the heart-wrenching events to transpire over a week prior, the sun had never once yielded to tragic rains or moaning winds. It burned on, hot as ever, like the blood under her skin.

Amena turned her gaze from where her eyes had stared into the day's blistering rays. She blinked white stars from her vision to meld the distortion and make out the clatter of gladiators below her balcony. Like any day before, Gazille was the first to step into the morning's first light, rusty eyes burning with his passion for the arena; a passion that continued to honour her father even after his title was stripped from him.

It should have been comforting, the knowledge that nothing had changed.

But everything had.

Her heart ached as she watched Neirah scurry alongside their Celtic slave, the one bought to tend to the livelihood of their gladiators. She could tell by the way the Celt gestured to her precious desert flower that she was unkind, shoving the petals of her peace to the side in command. Neirah had her strengths, tending meagre meals was not one of them. Then there were the gladiators beneath her, wielding swords just as strongly for their new master. Even Gazille was just as proficient, a man who had loved Vitus like a father once. But that is what slaves did. They served their purpose no matter the circumstance when all she wanted to do was fade from it.

Everything was changing. Every peace and comfort she had ever known had been torn from her. Her father, her dearest love, her happiness, and most importantly, what did not escape her attention that morning when Cecilia's hand had laid to rest upon hers atop the balcony was the weighted loss of friendship.

"It lifts the heart to see dry eyes this morn," Cecilia cooed in her sweet, musical voice. It was something else that had never changed even as she did.

Amena had refused to raise her gaze. Where she may have once found comfort in the woman's warm presence, she'd found the rancid spectacle churning her stomach. Cecilia was a large part of the reason that Neirah was no longer by her side, her unexpected alliance with Marianus something else that hadn't escaped her notice. "Perhaps the sun has finally dried them…"

Cecilia giggled and followed Amena's gaze out to where the first rounds of training were beginning. Not all the gladiators yet stood before them in showing, only the early and eager. Other's preferred to take their time lacing greaves.

Upon noticing that her target wasn't in sight, Cecilia had quickly turned her gaze back to her sceptical friend. She had known that she was being suspected, her half-truths. She'd anticipated that was why Amena had decided to extend the invitation for Cecilia to remain. They weren't sure the weight of the information she'd carried and they'd feared to lose Laxus before they could profit off his name, his capabilities. But the truth of the matter was that Cecilia had a similar scepticism. She turned and overlooked the filling courtyard. Still no Jupiter.

It was true, Laxus had committed a great crime against the republic, but she'd still wanted him. She wanted the power that his name had carried, she'd wanted to win. Nobody had ever denied her anything in the end, and those who did were made to surrender it to her one way or another. Just like he would soon be forced to surrender to her. Part of the reason that she had decided to linger in Damascus was that she was nervous about carrying the truth of his survival to his grandfather. If Senator Decius was still furious that Laxus had cut down the man's son, he would ride out personally through dust and sun only to finish the job himself. Seeing an end to the young legatus' life was not what she had sought.

Not yet.

The senator had covered the story of Laxus' betrayal, blamed the Germanic tribes for the ending of his son and his legions. Cecilia had never pressed the truth because there was nothing for her to gain. Yet there the man stood, alive and thriving before her; well, for a slave. Her lips curled into a gentle smile that she feigned was for her friend's comfort. What she had needed before she had returned to Rome with such delicate news were weight and actuality. She could linger… a moment.

"A new day dawns, as loving husband promised," Cecilia crooned softly. "It carries the rise of the sun and this house along with it." She slowly turned her gaze to meet Amena's, her tone smoothed to force as much tenderness into it as a woman with an agenda could. "You will see many more a sunrise with us." When Amena turned to face her, she slowly reached out and took the woman's hands in hers. "I would see smiles and happiness upon your beautiful face to greet each one."

Amena's expression flickered with something akin to disgust as the fair woman slipped her fingers over the curves of her cheeks. Surely Cecilia couldn't have believed that Neirah had struck out at her the night before. Neirah would just as soon throw herself off a balcony. But Cecilia had had a hand in condemning the exotic bloom to the ludus, far from Amena's reach, far from comforts. The transgression could not be forgiven.

But the damage was done, the soft smile on her face surrendered to that truth. Moving forward, she would have to comb through tangled webs, lies entwined with flesh. If she was too abrasive, she would sever the meaty strands and blood would drip from the balconies of the sun's house. Her approach had to be gentle, thorough, but not hasty. She had to be sure that she was privy to the weave of a serpent.

One she was sure had condemned Jupiter to slavery.

"Then you must teach me," Amena whispered. She smiled docilely back at Cecilia and cupped her hand over one of Cecilia's against her cheek. "How to smile and laugh. Things that have been too long forgotten."

Cecilia seemed to take comfort in the acceptance of her embrace as she reached out and gave the woman a tight hug. "I would eagerly do so. I would see no more tears shed. You are to entertain fine company this afternoon that promises the elevation of this house in greater games. I would see the opportunity promptly seized."

"As would I."

Amena and Cecilia turned to face a chipper Marianus with polar opposite expressions on their faces.

"Good morning, husband," Amena forced. "I do hope you slept pleasantly last night. I regret that my tears drove you from our bed." A great fib, but challenging him had become dangerous since the loss of her father. There was nothing left to protect her from her dear husband's temper.

"Ah, fear not, my sun," he assured. He placed a gentle kiss on her brow and shot Cecilia the subtlest of beams. "Who am I to deny you your moment?"

Amena's palms grew clammy and clenched for his hypocrisy.

"The sooner you cry yourself out, the sooner we might embrace opportunity."

"Consider eyes dried." She hadn't meant to sound so lifeless in her claim, but as the sparkle had dimmed in her eyes, her smile faded, and with her smile, she had lost a little more life every moment she was forced to remain in such strained company. "And mind set to purpose." Even if she wasn't sure of what that purpose was yet, she knew she would press towards it. She had become a slave within her own walls, a slave to circumstance, tragedy. She had felt no better than the men beneath her forced to take up arms for their amusement. Purpose was all that had kept her on the advance. In that aspect, all men were equal. All men wanted something…

Marianus smiled his delight and gently kissed his wife's brow on repeat. "The thought warms me," he announced enthusiastically. "Then today marks the beginning of our ascension. We can only be moved towards greater things from here out. Soon, even gods will tremble when they hear the names of our gladiators fall from lips."

"Dominus!"

Marianus couldn't help but shudder for the intimidation the rough man's voice had instilled in him, but then, a part of his shiver was of triumph to hear the mighty roar from below.

"Oh, there he is," Cecilia crooned.

He slowly turned and looked out over the balcony, a broad and menacing Jupiter glaring back up at him, his face twisted into a demanding grimace. Marianus was almost disappointed that he hadn't made the impatient young legatus wait for his attention.

"Speaking of the gods," Marianus crooned. "What stirs my beast this bright morning?"

Laxus' gaze narrowed on the man in hopes of blocking a conceited Cecilia's sight from his. "I would have words."

Marianus' grin grew amused as the remaining gladiators stilled in the courtyard to such a bold demand. Jupiter had a bit of a reputation among them for making inappropriate waves. Then again, he was not made as most gladiators. Marianus nearly laughed as he strode to the balcony and laid a hand upon its polished surface, looking down on the brooding mass before him. "And which ones might those be?" He grinned into his own mocking tone. "For all your surrenders since you have joined us, that self-entitled attitude thrives." Marianus picked at his nails with a whimsical sigh. "Or perhaps you have forgotten you are a slave and are made to follow my demands; not the other way around."

Laxus had to bite his tongue to keep from barking a string of profanities towards the conceited tyrant pulling his strings, but that was the last thing that would aid his purpose. "Then perhaps if you should find time to break concern, you might summon me for the words that will determine how well my sword will perform in the arena days to come." He could make himself turn away, he could make the words leave his lips, but he just couldn't conceal the condescending sarcasm bleeding venom into the subtle warning.

Marianus ground his teeth. If nothing else, his fallen had begun to respect his title by using it to summon his attention. He should have been content with such surrender from a revered legatus of Rome… but he wasn't. "Guards! See Jupiter to the villa." He was thankful that his slave didn't grin wickedly when the man's cold half-gaze rolled over his shoulder to glare his way. Even if there was tension between them, there was submission, there was dominance, and there was an unspoken reliance on the other to make their way in the world to come. "I have found my curiosity piqued."

Gazille snorted his utter amusement as a guard ushered Laxus through the courtyard and made sure he carried nothing of threat with him to the villa. "The balls on you, prancing about like you own the place."

Laxus rolled his lethargic gaze to meet the Egyptian's. "I do not prance."

"Well, I suppose, only pretty things prance." Gazille snickered and weaved one of his training swords through his fingers as Laxus rolled his eyes and sauntered after his escort. "Ugly fuck." His smile faded as he raised his gaze towards the balcony where his superiors clamoured eagerly about. Not only was his sister not where he'd worked so hard to see her over the years, but in her place stood a cerulean-haired beauty like he'd never known.

His gaze softened less lethally than he'd liked to keep it when her skittish hazel gaze met his, her breathlessly parted, pink pout summoning a nervous breath upon notice. Even from a distance away, he could see the blood rushing to her round cheeks. He could imagine the race in her heart like it was beneath his fingertips; so soft, so gentle, so opposite him in every way.

She was a sight for sore eyes, a breath of fresh air and every other overused analogy his tired mind could conjure. His sword. He could feel her presence like it had pulsed beneath his own skin, making him stronger, sharper. If surviving in a crumbling house was to be a battle, she was every bit of weapon he'd needed to soothe him, strengthen him to his purpose.

He chanced to smile, just once, praying to all the gods in new lands and old that no one of worth had noticed. It had felt strange, smiling up towards the balcony for her and not his sister. He had always lived to see that his sister was provided for, protected, so he couldn't figure out why it had felt so good to see another woman in her place, safe by their domina's side.

"Do not chance to linger."

Levy whirled to face where Cecilia had grown uncomfortably close to her. She had never much cared for Cecilia. To a woman of wit, Cecilia always made her uneasy with the weight of mistrust instinctually filling her every time the woman had opened her mouth. It had been worse since Jupiter had joined them, worse since Neirah had chanced to desire the man in the presence of his ex-betrothed. It got worse still as she was embraced by the claws of the demon perched on her shoulder.

"Eyes that want, betray."

It was the way she had spoken the words against Levy's ear before departing that had made the dainty woman's body shiver. She spoke like the sentiment was a threat. That was when her heart had sunk. Cecilia had grown venomous towards Neirah and Levy had fallen in love with her predecessor's brother. The thought had crossed her mind that perhaps Cecilia was preparing to include her in some sort of scheme to see Neirah delivered from their walls, or possibly to an afterlife.

She watched her company depart in preparation for Jupiter's words, her will certain as she began to comb through cobwebs. She would never betray her dearest friends, never betray the man she loved by tearing him away from the little sister he'd cherished more than anything; no matter how badly her eyes wanted.

"Gazille," Gallus ordered. "Pair with Lysimachus."

Gazille lingered a moment before sighing utter bliss and striding towards his purpose. Yes, if the House of the Sun were to break into civil rebellion, there was no sword sharper than his Levy.

"Jupiter," Marianus purred upon the man's entry. "I am sensing trace amounts of hostility in your tone. And after such a pleasant parting last evening. My dear wife is safe from harm, your goddess descends to so bless-"

"I have changed my mind about the girl." Laxus rolled his gaze between his three conspiring masters, his will certain as he addressed them.

Two of the three gazes proceeded to illuminate in excitement while the other twisted in mortification.

"Oh?" Marianus prodded. "Then you suggest that she should be from this house after all?"

"No."

The reactions of the gazes reversed.

Marianus' temper started to brew once more as he edgily sought to milk the most profitable performance from his favoured gladiator. "Then speak intent," he demanded. "Does it not please you to hold your inspiration so close to breast?"

"I would have her closer…" Laxus paused strategically to watch the rage and betrayal flicker in Cecilia's gaze a moment before he'd shifted his gaze back towards his dominus. "To my masters."

"You would see her returned to this house? Even after she attacked your domina!?" Marianus raged his statement like he had believed the fable. "Speak reasoning to madness!"

Laxus spared Amena's pleading gaze consideration before his demeanour had grown coarse once more in addressing his dominus. "In my greed, I was mistaken to summon the Heart of the Sun to the ludus. She is meant to be mystifying, not common. I would not learn her."

Amena almost cried tears of joy as she watched her Jupiter at work. "It is true," she praised. "The woman is meant to symbolize the very soul of our house. To see her toil in a common setting will seek to discourage the men and remind them that even gods bleed."

Laxus bobbed a slow nod. "I am proof enough of this. I would see the woman return to her place by your side." He paused and corrected his tone to sound less orderly. "If it would please you, Dominus."

"If it should please-" Marianus trembled with rage and impatience, moments from striking out at the bold slave. "Oracle or not, that woman struck a master of this house!" he seethed. "What makes you think that I want her back here?!"

"She does not have to be in direct service to me as before," Amena hastily defended. "Levy has been a fine replacement. Surely that is not what our Jupiter meant to suggest."

"Surely!" Cecilia added in support of Marianus' ideals. "Amena, to have that woman back here is a hazard! What if she made an attempt on you in your sleep for the sale of that slave girl bound for Neapolis! It is mercy enough to have spared the girl's life!"

"Agreed," Marianus thundered. "I care very little for old traditions and even less for being pressured into making a decision by a slave. One exceptional showing does not raise you above your kind. I could not care less if I watched you all fall without the influence of old Vitus' ways. I would start anew and amass a generation of more reliable warriors."

"And they would pale in comparison to what I would give to see the woman returned to place."

Marianus' expression grew stern and sceptical to the Roman's silent threat. "You move to press the matter even after your master dismisses it?"

"Perhaps you were right to assume that I entitle myself," he rumbled cautiously. "It is for my own purpose that I wish her away. I did not realise how difficult it would be to resist her call."

Marianus cocked a brow to the surrender of Laxus' gaze. "She has moved to seduce you?"

Laxus didn't raise his gaze as he pondered what was to come next. "She makes no effort; the weakness is my own." His heart ached in his chest, its beat echoing in his ears. "The privileges I have lost, the warmth of my betrothed's body beside mine fading from memory, it has weakened me to the scent of any temptation. If she remains, I fear I will fall under the same spell as Otho." He slowly raised his calculated gaze to his master's. "If I am to embrace brotherhood, I would not see conflict arise to a temptation."

Cecilia flinched, utterly baffled by her target's confession, but at the same time, she had remained cautiously suspicious.

"My enchantress…" Amena murmured hopefully.

Marianus took a step towards the man, his expression relatively lax. "You covet the slave girl."

There was no shame in the fallen legatus' announcement. "Yes, Dominus."

Marianus paced a slow, steady circle. He'd had a very difficult decision to make. On one hand, the woman he'd despised, the woman his wife had loved, she would be returning to the house by manipulation of a slave's will; even if that slave was also a promising gladiator. On the other hand, pleasing Jupiter sought to profit him greatly. Between bouts of love-making, he and Cecilia had shared similar opinions of the man and his promise. Laxus' bitter betrothed had wanted to see him live a long life filled with repentance for the crimes he'd committed against his family, against her for never coming home. Now, a reason for the man to serve was in his hands. He'd simply detested that the reason was one Marianus had wanted to banish from the house entirely.

"Perhaps the girl should return."

Marianus shifted his gaze alertly to where Cecilia had casually shrugged off Laxus' confession.

"I would hate to see this house' future champion stolen by such a superstition, watch him fall to such a distraction." Cecilia chanced to step towards Marianus. "Perhaps the man needs more training in the resistance of such… temptations… This time, it is the Heart of the Sun, next time, he may grow desperate."

"You have a suggestion to make?" Marianus pried bleakly.

"A small one," she crooned. "Laxus was my betrothed, after all…" She cocked her observation to one side with a soft coo. "Perhaps, to prevent further infatuations from becoming bothersome, we should see him better equip to resist them."

"Convenient we have just purchased a handful of well-practised whores," Marianus murmured.

"Oh no, Marianus, you mistake intent," she purred thoughtfully. "My legatus has no use for whores. The very man slaughtered his own flesh and blood for position. He has not changed. He would crave no common slave." She smiled wryly and traced her clean fingernail beneath his healthy eye. "That is why he had locked cherished sight on the highest-ranking woman in his power to crave."

Amena slowly nodded her head. "No slave was held in higher regard in this house than our Neirah."

"You truly are a villain," Cecilia whispered vindictively into his ear. She turned and redirected her attention towards Marianus. "I will bed him," she dictated. "It is no secret that the man is a predator between sheets. If anyone could condition him to withhold his passions it is the woman he almost wed. Perhaps a nightly taste would inspire him during the day's training and keep him from thirsting for temptation upon the ludus grounds."

Amena took a worrisome step forwards and clasped Cecilia's arm as if she was genuinely concerned for the woman. "But Cecilia, this is a slave. Surely he is not so legendary a lay that you would risk your own safety to do this for our house."

Cecilia shrugged her shoulders and turned back to Marianus. "Well, I have nothing better to do. I linger to see comforts given with no one to call my own at this particular moment before opportunity presents itself, so why should I not chance to indulge in the pleasures of a well-formed man."

Marianus snorted his amusement, catching the underlying promise of Cecilia's sentiment. "If you fancy a man with a single eye as well-formed," he sneered.

"And able-bodied," she mocked with a delighted giggle. "Do you wish me to do you this service or not? I would hate to see my dear betrothed sucked in by some cursed succubus and spit out into the belly of the arena to fall to the jeering of the crowd. I will entertain him free of desperation so that he might chance to resist the call of a slave."

"But to be clear, the aim will be to develop a tolerance to such a call," he warned Laxus sternly. "This is in no way reward for your little outburst. If it cunt you seek, you should find it in reward of proper service." His gaze faltered as he connected it with Cecilia's. "Accurate?"

Cecilia's expression weaved hesitantly as she backpedalled to a more appropriate position in the conversation. "Of course. I would summon guard should he act too keenly."

Marianus turned back to Laxus quizzically. "Will this not pose an equally as vexing distraction as assumed last night?"

"Only to look upon her in vain," Laxus force-fibbed through grit teeth. "To hold a piece of the past would accomplish something else… entirely…" He had known he was condemned to suffer the fate before he'd even opened his mouth that morning, but when Marianus dropped his smiling head in agreement, he thought he'd heave.

"It is settled then," he approved. "You will train with your brothers upon the sands until the sun falls and then a guard escort will see you to the villa to continue your conditioning. In the meantime, while you develop a tolerance to the whores that you mingle amongst, we will keep the Heart of the Sun within our walls." Marianus took a step towards Laxus with an amused grin on his tanned face. "See that your performance is not hindered by the thought of lying with your betrothed again, slave," he chided. "Or perhaps that was your plan all along?"

Cecilia giggled in delight.

"Do not distract yourself with this arrangement any more than the current one or I will see it undone," Marianus commanded. "Am I understood?"

"Yes, Dominus," Laxus seethed. He'd eagerly awaited dismissal back to the ludus because he knew if he was forced to linger a moment longer, he'd come undone and surely make an attempt on his master, if not, Cecilia certainly.

"Do not forget, husband," Amena announced to catch the man's attention. She was not done with their Jupiter. She had something of worth to add towards the salvation of the self-sacrificial man. "What good is training if we cannot assess the state of progress?"

"Oh?"

Amena held the corners of her dress and swept across the floor towards the two conspirators, desperate to return Jupiter's kindness. "I would see his resistance put to the test each passing week."

"And how would you see this accomplished?"

"I could offer report?" Cecilia suggested zealously.

"But, by the divine, our enchantress still holds sway over a gladiators heart," Amena cautioned. "She may see our Jupiter ensnared in her trance once more. We must be certain before we misstep." Amena turned to face Laxus confidently. "At the close of each week, I would see the slave girl returned to the villa and kept in Jupiter's cell. We will monitor his ability to resist the call of the succubus by means of her return." Amena raised her soft chocolate gaze to meet Laxus' in warning. "It is no secret that the woman is pure. Should he fall under her spell and enter her, we will know he has betrayed the arrangement. Once we are given to understand that he has grown immunity to her charm, we can return her to the ludus permanently and rid our dear Cecilia of the burden."

Cecilia had tried not to let her impatience show as she accepted the hold Amena had taken on her arm. "A wonderful idea. And anytime he steps out of line…" She turned and offered Marianus a casually detached beam. "We have him lashed."

Marianus' brow quirked eagerly to the thought. "Wonderous indeed," he agreed.

"Yes, well let us see you back, Jupiter," Marianus announced. He gave his head a bob towards the man, signalling the guards to return him. "We will remove the woman presently, but a matter presses." He circled the room as Laxus was joined by two guards prepared for his escort. "Magistrate Regulus and company arrive this afternoon to offer condolences to the house." He leant his palms against his desk and stared back at the man. "I suggest you remain from the grounds until after they depart."

"But his training," Amena defended.

"Can wait," Marianus overruled. "It would do us no good if they carried back rumours of your survival to Rome."

"Dominus…"

"Will you be capable of enduring the call of a succubus for an afternoon longer?"

He tried not to knot his face as he spoke the words. "If it serves you."

Marianus snorted and took a seat at his desk. "It is like striking a deal with the underworld. I love it," he teased. "Return him to his cell and release him to training only after the magistrate has departed. Return the slave girl at the same time. I would have no outbursts from her while we host a Roman magistrate." Marianus smiled behind his contented sigh as he watched the men depart. "How delightful, I always get such a rush from these meetings."

Cecilia leant across the top of his desk with a wicked grin on her lips. "It is not common to receive such a submissive display from a Roman commander, is it?"

Amena's brow creased humbly as she observed the shift in her husband's opinion of Cecilia. A couple weeks prior, Marianus had wanted nothing to do with her company, since then she'd felt as though she'd witnessed their courting. "There… I am so glad you two are getting along better."

"Hm? Oh yes, anyways, I have some things to attend before our guests arrive. Have one of the slaves fetch a jug of our finest and see me summoned upon our guest's arrival."

"Then we shall leave you to your tedious thoughts and see ourselves bathed in preparation for our guests," Cecilia crooned upon parting. "Come Amena, my love. Let us indulge in each other's finer company less the calculated bore."

"Do not overindulge!" Marianus ordered. "You have a beast to help me tame."

"Oh, I do hope you mean Jupiter," she crooned. "I joke, most certainly." Cecilia turned to coddle Amena to her breast. "What a dirty husband you have."

"Indeed," Amena droned causally. "Perhaps he is the one in need of a good bath."