Hi readers!
II hope you liked the previous chapter! Thanks for the views and comments. Here is the new one! Let me know what you think! Not many chapters left!
Love,
Diana.
27-
Batiatus caught a glimpse of Ashur's hand retracting from her body, his bulge still visible though his clothes.
"What's going on here, Ashur? Your breathing sounds labored" he watched Xena standing still, bound against the wall, wearing a smug face. "Xena, what happened here?" he approached her and saw the bite mark and blood on her neck "were you two having fun?" he asked, serious.
"No, Dominus. Your filthy slave picked the wrong woman to get rough with" she said, echoing her own words, moving her eyes toward the Syrian.
"Ashur, is this true?" the Lanista said, with a questioning gaze to the man.
"Well, Dominus, you know women. She led me to believe that she wanted it and then, she eventually… changed her mind. She was trying to seduce me so that I would convince you to spare her from a good flogging" he said, trying to control his impulses and regaining his composure. He was livid.
"A bit out of character, Xena. Unleash her" Ashur did as instructed, keeping his eyes on her defiantly. "Xena, what happened earlier today was… painful to watch. I didn't expect you to betray me, let alone you attacking my wife" he looked at her, while she touched her stomach which ached from Ashur's beating.
"Dominus, may I speak?" she asked politely. He nodded. "I was taken aback. Me and Gabrielle have never been slaves before. We were free women. And now we need to get accustomed to this new life. I apologize. But, I know I deserve a punishment"
Just pretend he's right. Feed his ego.
"Xena, I know what my wife did was not right. She had never asked anyone to watch while a slave was being tattooed. But, you will surely agree with me that it's dangerous to have both you are your friend here."
"Yes dominus. I know. I used to own slaves myself. And what you say is true. Apologies, again."
"I won't punish you today. Numerius' birthday reception is tomorrow and I need to introduce you in all of your glory, and not with a tortured back. I'll ask Naevia and Gabrielle to cover that bruise on your cheek. Now, go back to the ludus and join the others. I'll decide what to do with you after the party. GUARD! Escort the lady to the ludus." He then walked up to Ashur, and said "And YOU, watch what you do. If you wanted her, you could have asked for her. That would have been punishment enough. But, this way you have overstepped the limit. Remember that I am the one who gives orders. I am the owner of this house. Not you!" he put a hand on his shoulder "And be wiser next time. Pick an easier one. Now, go back to your duties"
Xena stepped in the ludus, happy to finally be able to breathe some fresh air. She went straight to the well and she washed her mouth. Spartacus and Varro were playfully joking, happy about the fight in the arena of the day before which saw them both succeed. They saw her put a hand on the wall and lean slightly against it and when they noticed her purple cheek, they run to her:
"Xena, what happened? They summoned you almost two candle marks ago. And you don't look all too well." Said Varro. The man felt bad for her because, albeit strong, she was still a woman and she used to be a free woman brought here for no reason at all. A woman who had to watch her lover willingly enslave herself in order to be near her. He thought her guilt probably tormented her.
"I'm fine, it's just a scratch. Nothing serious. Go back to the training" she felt nausea rising because of the blows she got and her legs were wobbling for having being chained against the wall. And she felt bloodlust rising. Xena leant against the wall again and let her body slide down till she was sitting on the ground.
"Hey, what happened?" repeated Spartacus. He noticed scratches and bruises on her ankles, neck and wrists and saw her tunic was rumpled. Her cheekbone was purple and swollen and the bite-mark on her neck was still bleeding. He knelt down, surprised of being this worried about her.
"I'm fine. I just want some more water" Varro filled the ladle and gave it to her and she emptied it in the blink of an eye. "Don't worry about me. It's only been a rough day" she put her hands on her stomach and pressed her fingers to sense if there were any lumps or, more unlikely, broken ribs.
"I don't believe you. Let me see, will ya? Let's go to my cell, come" the two gladiators followed him, having Doctore allowed them to. She asked for a mirror but, as expected, he didn't have one. She raised her shirt, as if the two men were not watching, and she saw the black bruises already forming on her skin. She silently cursed Ashur. She could feel some swelling but it was nothing serious. What she really despised was that awful mark on her neck.
"Xena…. " started the Bringer of the Rain, visibly worried.
"Alright, Fine! I'll tell ya what happened" she almost yelled "Doctore asked Batiatus to let me spend time with Gabrielle, but Domina decided to play a stupid game and wanted me to watch while they marked her. I freaked out and almost strangled her and then I almost killed Ashur. I made them promise that Gabrielle would not be branded and they asked that filthy gofer to take me to my cell. End of the story." Oh Caesar you'll oh so pay for this. The two men exchanged a grave look.
"That fucking Syrian needs to have his ass beaten, why didn't you do it?" added the blond man "Listen, Xena, I think you should put something on those bruises, otherwise you won't be able to train. And disinfect that bite, it's nasty! By the way, did Domina finally show her fangs?"
She almost smiled and said "No, your fucking Syrian did. And, well he got a taste of it, but I swear sooner or later I'll wipe that stupid smile from his ass face. Luckily, I'm not a poor helpless slave. Gods, he stinks so bad I need a bath" again the two men looked again at each other, a look that spoke volumes. Silence fell.
"Listen, I know I said horrible things to and about you. But, I am sorry for that" said Spartacus
"I know. I am too." The two Thracians shook their hands, briefly smiling.
"Oh c'mon. I'm going back to training, I am overwhelmed by all this sugar, ugh" Varro exclaimed, leaving the cell.
"hey, Spartacus, before you leave… listen to me: we need to go away from here. All of us. " said Xena, looking serious.
"Well, I have no purpose. Dominus has been good to me and my wife died. I can't help you Xena" replied Spartacus, leaving.
We'll see about that.
She followed them and asked Oenomaus if she could go to the infirmary, where she put some balms and medicaments on her wounds and when she came back, she fought like an enraged lioness, disarming most of her opponents, she couldn't even feel any pain. She worked off all that bloodlust, trying to work out a plan. She couldn't do this alone, she needed the gladiators to be on her side. She had do leave this horrible place and have her revenge on Caesar. So, she decided to be more talkative and she also decided to give them advices and teach them new movements and fighting techniques. She needed friends. She had to pretend that she wanted to be part of the brotherhood, that she wanted to be like them, she had to show Batiatus that she was being successfully brainwashed and that she longed for her owners' approval. If she succeeded, she would win both their trust and that of the gladiators. And that was what she needed the most: the support of both the two factions.
In order to fool the Romans and convince the others to rise up against them.