Of Blood and Honor

by Vampirepancakes

Bonnie meets Damon along with his band of rebels and receives an offer to join their rebellion. Set in the time of Ancient Rome. Based on the plot of the Spartacus (Starz) TV Show but with characters from The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.

2. Joining the Rebellion

His offer hung in the air as Bonnie viewed the man before her, to measure if he was an honest and trustworthy man for her to form an alliance with. "I have your word you say?"

Damon confirmed. "You have my word and our protection against your enemies."

After weighing the pros and cons in her head, she came to her decision, deciding that there were more pros on her side in forming an alliance with him. "I'll join you and your men in your rebellion against Rome."

"Really, you will?"

"As I said before, I view you as ally due to the common foe we share in the form of the Republic. And you have offered me your assistance in locating my family and giving me the needed tools in the defense of myself against those who would come after me to do the bounty which is over my head. The way I see it, joining you and your men could be mutually beneficial for the both of us."

"It will be mutually beneficial to us both if we form an alliance. Me and my men will aid you and you in return could have valuable information about the Romans that would help us gain advantage over them. And well as provide another armed recruit to go up against the forces they'll attempt to stop us with." Damon commented.

While Bonnie's family wasn't of the higher Roman bloodline and lineage, they had done just enough business and trading with the Romans to know how some of them worked and moved. "And I'll give you every piece of knowledge I know about them, so we can help crush them together."

"And we will crush them together, for the suffering they caused to us both and to others." Damon stated in a determined tone.

"Then know that you have me on your side." She finally shook his hand. "And all of my knowledge and skill, as I'll help you by doing all I can to bring the Republic to the justice that they deserve to face."

Damon smiled. "Welcome to the Rebellion, Bonnie Bennett."

Bonnie smiled back. "I'm glad to join, as you said it will be valuable to the both of us.

Damon released her hand and allowed his hand to fall to his side. "About the location of your family, it may take some time to gather the needed answers to discover exactly where they are, but I'll keep my word, we will find them some day for you."

"Of that I am aware of, I know the countryside and lands are vast, so vast it could take months and even years to find them. That doesn't matter to me as long as I find them. I'll reunite with them no matter how much time it takes me to do so." Bonnie expressed.

"And I'll be with you, no matter how long it takes." Damon told her.

She could see by the look in his eyes how he meant what he was saying and that made her feel confident about her decision to put her trust in him and join his Rebellion.

He gestured. "I know what great risk you take in joining us, going up against Rome by joining our Rebellion and being seen as their enemy because of it."

She shrugged. "I'm already seen as an enemy of one of the most noble families in Rome, the McKittricks. I don't know if me joining you band of escape gladiators would really make difference in how they view me."

"Still one noble family, doesn't change the risk of what you will be viewed as once you take up arms with us against the entire Republic. It's a risk you're taking and know that it's appreciated."

"I'll gladly join you and the others with you in taking up arms to crush the oppressive system they built for themselves. And as for being viewed as an enemy of Rome." Bonnie smirked. "That is a label I'll proudly wear, just to see those like the McKittricks taken down a notch or two."

Damon chuckled. "Only if everyone on our side had your spirits, then Rome wouldn't stand a chance against us."

Bonnie returned in an amused tone. "No, they wouldn't."

Damon inquired. "What skills do you have when he comes to be trained in weapons?"

She maneuvered herself to where her other bow was. She had about four bows in total that she used to shoot her assembly of arrows from. She would alter between the different bows she used.

"I'm only experienced in bow and arrow." Bonnie grabbed one of the bows to demonstrate.

"Do you have any experience with the sword?" Damon asked her.

"No, I've no skill with the sword or really any weaponry of steel which requires close hand to hand combat."

"I'll teach you the ways of the sword and close hand to hand combat."

She looked over her shoulder at him. "Would you now?"

He gave her another smile. "If you'd like."

Bonnie brushed a hand over the fabric she wore. "I guess it would be for the best if I learn how to fight with the sword since I'm joining the rebellion."

Damon put in. "It would be wise. Going completely unskilled in that area wouldn't be the best thing against the armies of Rome."

Bonnie motioned. "You've convinced me, I'll learn the ways of the sword and use what I learned to leave many dead Roman soldiers in our wake."

"Then I shall teach you all the skills in sword combat you need to know." Damon stated.

"Well, what better way for me to gain experience with swords than to learn from the mighty gladiator champion Damon Salvatore himself." Bonnie said this with a lightheartedness to her tone.

"I'll start teaching you soon." Damon shared her tone. "We can start our lessons within the following few days."

"And I in return can teach anyone who is amongst your group about the methods of the bow and arrow. Since I already have so much talent there."

"Most of us haven't fought with bows, as our fighting in the arena has had us fight with weapons that required us to get closer to our opponents."

Bonnie rested her hands on the table. "I'm sure you and your men are of great skilled in closer combat fighting. But, it would help to add bows and arrows to your weaponry. Arrows which will help strike down enemies from a distance."

Damon walked over to where a bunch of arrows were on the table. "You're right, if we are fortunate enough to have our numbers grow, then having archers on our side would take out some of the rival infatary before they reach us."

Bonnie concurred. "It would help dwindle their numbers even if not completely kill them all."

"So, how about we split time between you teaching the others how to shoot the bow and arrow and me teaching you the ways of the sword." Damon suggested.

"I'll start lessons with them on the same day you start your lessons with me." Bonnie remarked. "Not all who are with you are gladiators."

"Some are men who escaped with us, as they were slaves who did other tasks under the house of Saint Augustine. They have no skill in fighting or combat but we're working on teaching them each day. Others are women who were slaves in the villa and of course they have no skill in fighting."

"But, if some of the women who were with you could learn how to fight, it would help add to the numbers of your men who already have skill in that area."

He looked over at her. "True any person, man or woman who wishes to take up arms against Rome deserves equal opportunity to do so. I'm sure there are some women with us who would have such an opportunity if presented to them."

Bonnie pointed out. "Those women who wish to learn how to fight, can start by learning the ways of the bow and arrow, I'll gather them all to give them lessons in how to use the arrows to injure and kill."

Damon stated. "I'll spread out the word that we'll need archers on our side and you'll be the one who will start teaching them skills in that area."

Bonnie nodded in acknowledgement.

There was a brief moment of silence between them, as they studied each other's appearance.

Then Bonnie spoke. "My family and having the tools to defend myself against those who would threaten my freedom and life, is an immense factor in why I'm agreeing to fight with you, but it's not the only reason I'm joining your rebellion."

"Just what are your other reasons for uniting our uprising?"

"My strong and firm belief is that every man, woman, and child should be free. And not be forced to labor for the convenience and comforts of other people."

"This is something else we are of like mind on. I too strongly believe that every human being should be able to forge their own paths and not have it forged or choosen for them."

Bonnie put in. "As I said, my family never believed in the Roman way of slavery. All should have free will to choose the lives they wish to live. There are those in higher position and wealth who think they have the right to enjoy their lives off of the forced labor of others, but they are wrong."

Damon understood what she was talking about, as he had to live the life for the entertainment of those who came to see men such as himself fight in the arena. Even while some of the Romans upheld the gladiators as heroes of the arena, they still viewed gladiators as slaves beneath their rank.

And it was because he had lived the life, which led him to say. "I would have all men, women, and children who are still enslaved under such circumstances free of such."

"As would I." Bonnie communicated with feeling. "For too long, too many have suffered under the restrictive system of Rome."

"For far too long have people lived, died and suffered for the wills of their masters." A certain look entered into his icy blue eyes. "And I'll use every ounce of life I have left to put an end to it."

"One of the reasons why I'm not a fan of the games." Bonnie eyed him with sympathy. "No matter how much they glorify it, men like you were still sold and enslaved to be entertainment for those of higher wealth and position. I don't think that's right."

"It took me a while to see it as you do." Damon muttered. "In the ludus we were taught to embrace the cheers of the people who had come to see us fight. That fighting for them, in front of them should be viewed as an honor. Still no loudly how they cheered our names, it all came down to the fact that just wanted their blood lust to be quenched through having those sold for such to kill each other. And all for the entertainment of those Romans."

Bonnie assessed. "And it was the murder of your brother to see them for what they truly were."

Damon confessed. "Greyson Gilbert had my brother executed simply because he viewed me as his cash cow, to win coin for him due to my victories in the arena. He didn't value me as a human, just someone who could gain him favor with those of high position and just someone who could gain him wealth."

Bonnie announced. "It's good then how you and the other gladiators of St. Augustine, were able to free yourselves from Greyson Gilbert's greed and selfishness, when you all made your escape."

"Being removed from the place where Greyson Gilbert ruled with a vicious iron fist was a great relief to me, as was taking his life. Although he's not the only reason I'm relieved to be removed from that place."

"There was another factor which you had to suffer there besides Greyson Gilbert?" Bonnie guessed.

"I've had unpleasant experiences with the domina of the house of St. Augustine."

"You meant Greyson Gilbert's wife Sybil?"

Damon bobbed his head in the yes signal.

"And what unpleasant experiences did she make you go through?"

A grim expression came upon Damon's features. "For nearly a year, she would summon me to her bed chambers. It was while Greyson Gilbert would leave the villa to go into town to handle business. When he did, she would get the guards to summon for me behind his back and would draw me to her bed chambers."

Bonnie's stomach clenched at what he seemed to be implying. "She had you lay with her?"

Damon became bothered just by thinking about his experiences with Sybil. "It was something I didn't wish to do, the very act of it made me uncomfortable. Yet, I felt like I had no choice as no matter how highly I was held as a gladiator they still viewed me as a slave."

"Sybil is a ruthless heartless bitch then, for what she did to you and put you through."

"I never actually got much pleasure out of my interactions with her, I only followed through each time she summoned me, because I knew she would make me face the dire consequences if I refused her."

Bonnie felt an intense dislike towards this Sybil woman. "She forced you to lie with her absent your choice. No one should be ordered or commanded to do such an act of intimacy against their will."

Damon glowered at the unpleasant memory of it. "She didn't view it that way, to her I was just a slave and she was a Roman woman, who I had a duty to please. As if it was just any common order she gave to the other slaves who accompanied her."

Bonnie could see how much he didn't like or enjoy having to be with Sybil in such a manner and because of it, she felt disgust towards the Roman woman. "Rape is what she did to you."

"Not everyone would call it such, as I'm a man and she a woman."

"Yet, rape is exactly what it was. Sybil used her position and power to take advantage of you. As you said you got no pleasure from the act, yet even if you did it would still be rape. She coerced you into lying with her, absent your choice."

He may have just met Bonnie, but her emphatic tone and understanding made him more comfortable and willing to open up about his horrible experience at St. Augustine. "The more she commanded me to be with her, the more hatred I grew inside of my heart towards her."

Bonnie took a step forward. "And you have every right to that hatred in your heart for what she did to you."

Damon shook his head. "She actually told me she loved me."

Bonnie said nothing, but her reaction was clear in the disapproval which came upon the features of her face, disapproval that was directed at Sybil.

"Words of love is what she would express to me after some of the commanding encounters. Yet I did not feel any love towards her at all, I did not and do not love her. I never could love a woman of her character. No matter how many sweet words she flooded me with."

"Of course you wouldn't have loved her, it was absent your choice to be with her after all."

Damon shifted on his feet. "Yet, she believed she could make me love her. She told me to tell her and I did, but only because I knew she would have me whipped or punished if I didn't. So, she was very angry when she discovered I had no feelings of love for her, in fact how I hated her."

Bonnie knew. "You wouldn't have told her about your honest feelings as you said she would have you punished if you did."

"No, I wouldn't have."

"Then how did your honest feelings about her come by her ear?"

"It came by her ear because of a snake in the grass, who was also a slave, but one who was considered a close right hand man to Greyson Gilbert. This snake would do things to gain favor with his masters. Including turning on the other slaves of the villas and ludus."

"One day, when I believed I was having private conversation with another man of the brotherhood, called Enzo, who became a close friend of mine at that point, I revealed to him how I did not love Sybil and hated what she was making me do with her. After a year of doing this, the burden had been too much and would unleash some of my feelings to a trusted friend. But while Enzo offered his supportive voice and ear, there was someone else close by listening in on our conversation." Damon finished.

Bonnie guessed. "The snake in the grass."

Damon continued. "The snake again, to gain favor, went to Sybil and filled her ear with what he had heard me say, This spurned her heart, and she would use that spurned heart to seek revenge on me for not loving her."

"What punishment did she give you?"

"She conspired with her husband to set up a contest between me and Klaus Mikaelson, who was the champion of the city and the top gladiator of St. Augustine when I was first brought there as a recruit. She convinced him that it would bring more prosperity and coin to them, if there were to be contest between me and Klaus. And Greyson Gilbert for his own motivations also thought it would send message to have me and Klaus in contest against each other."

Damon continued his explanation. "Sybil was the one to convince Greyson on how the contest between me and Klaus should be one to the death. Normally, two gladiators underneath the same roof would just spar, with strict instruction not to cause serious injury to the other or not to kill the other."

Bonnie guessed. "But, this time there had been a difference in what you and Klaus were ordered to do."

Damon stated. "They ordered we must fight until death or that both of our lives would be forfeit if we refused to fight. So, because of her spurred heart, Sybil had helped organize the contest, hoping it would led to my demise since Klaus had been and still was a gladiator of high skill, who defeated other highly skilled gladiators from other luduses in the land."

"Yet you were highly skilled in the arena as well, what would Sybil have done if you'd won the battle and defeated Klaus?"

"Klaus and I are of equal skill, Sybil knew this, which was why she had drug slipped into my drink, on the day me and Klaus were supposed to have contest."

"Would she not think that you being drugged would be noticed?"

Damon motioned. "It was a herb which was meant to weaken me in the slightest way, so most wouldn't notice something had been slipped into my drink. Just enough to have caused Klaus to kill me if he had wanted to or at least this is what Sybil thought would happen. She had the belief that she would aid in my death that day and Klaus would be the one to carry out the sentence."

Bonnie scoffed. "She sentenced you to death, all because the man she forced herself upon didn't love her, doesn't sound like she really loved you after all."

Damon remarked with a certain gleam in his eye. "She would soon learn her plans to sentence me to death would fail. As the night of contest between me and Klaus, was the very same night that the outbreak occurred. Little did they know how me, Klaus, and the other gladiators in the ludus had already planned our escape and to make anyone standing in our way pay with blood and death."

"Which was the night which struck fear into the Romans, due to how many met a bloody fate that night."

"Greyson and Sybil had gathered a bunch of noble and rich Romans to watch me and Klaus fight to the death."

"They had belief they would see two enslaved men slaughter each other for bloodshed." Bonnie shrugged. "They got slaughtered instead."

"And due to many of them owning slaves themselves, me and my men had no qualms with killing them all. As we wanted to send a message to make Rome tremble."

Bonnie observed. "And make Rome tremble you and your men have indeed done."

That comment coming from her made him smirk, there was no doubt she was one hundred percent on their side and understood their cause and why they were doing what they were doing. He figured a lot of it had to do with the fact of what a highly noble Roman family had done to her and her family. And the suffering they had caused to her personally. So, he understood she had no love or care for the Romans.

Yet, he knew that the other part of her sympathized with those that were shackled and had been shackled under the system of Rome. Which was another reason she explained as to why she had joined their Rebellion to bring down the Romans.

"Many of them were slaughtered the night you and your men broke free, I must ask, was Sybil among the slaughtered?" Bonnie questioned.

"The last I laid eyes on her, she had a deep gash in her belly, placed there by a sword, she met an ugly fate just as the others of her kind did." Damon said in a matter of fact tone.

"And were you the one to give her such a ugly fate?" Bonnie's eyes scanned over his form out of curiosity."

"No, it wasn't my hand who wounded her." Damon went on. "Although, I must admit it was satisfying to see her on the ground, bleeding out from her stomach wound, next to her dead husband who I had slashed the throat of."

Bonnie decided. "I'll say that I have no pity or sorrow towards or for the woman for meeting the sharp end of a sword and for her being dead if she bleed out or succumbed to injury inflicted upon her."

And Bonnie really didn't feel any pity or sorrow for Sybil. The woman was a rapist, just as bad as a man who forced himself on a woman would be. And made an attempt to play a role in the death of Damon, just because he didn't return whatever twisted version of love she claimed to have for him. So, No, Bonnie didn't feel any pity or sorrow for the domina of St. Augustine at all.

"Neither do I." Damon narrowed his eyes coolly. "Not only because of my hatred of the encounters she made me have with her, but also because I know she approved of her husband seeing to the unjust execution of my brother, Stefan's life. All because they valued coin over him."

Just then a movement in the doorway of the room interrupted their conversation. The both of them turned to see who it was who had made the movement. Bonnie spotted a pretty woman, with blond hair and blue eyes standing in the doorway. But, even through her prettiness, Bonnie could see something else in the blond woman's eyes.

There appeared to be a sadness in the blue eyes of this woman and her demeanor also appeared to be one of exhaustion of a person who had to ensure some type of rough ordeal.

The blond woman spoke. "Damon, here you are, I've been searching for you."

"Caroline." Damon spoke to her. "Of what is your need for me?"

"I have no need for you." Caroline returned. "But, Marcel and Vincent require your attention and assistance on something. And I told them I would find you for them to let you know."

"Tell them I'll be with them shortly." Damon directed at Caroline.

"I will." With a nod, Caroline left the room.

"She looks worn down." Bonnie said of Caroline, once she was alone in the room with Damon again.

Damon looked in the spot where Caroline had disappeared from. "As anyone would be if they had to spend months on the mines."

"The mines?"

"We rescued her from the mines and now she's safe with us."

Bonnie turned her attention to Damon. "Caroline is her name?"

Damon confirmed. "That's correct."

Bonnie wondered. "When did you rescue Caroline from the mines?"

"Just a few days before we found this temple and you."

"Some view would it as a crazy attempt to risk going to the mines to save just one woman."

"A risky attempt which was worth it to see Caroline safe and out of that harsh place."

Bonnie eyed him with admiration. "I think it's brave and valiant of you to risk your life going into those mines to rescue Caroline, especially knowing that the Romans would have soldiers looking out for Damon Salvatore after what occurred at St. Augustine."

Damon said. "It wasn't something I accomplished on my own, there were other men who made rescue attempt with me."

Bonnie returned. "And they are as brave and valiant as you are. There's no greater courage than a man risking his life for others, especially those who are defenseless."

"I made a promise that I would watch over her and save her, and as I said, I'm a man of my word."

"How did she end up in the mines in the first place?"

"Sybil."

"Her again?"

"Caroline was a body slave for Sybil, she worked in the villas and tended to all of Sybil's needs and would accompany Sybil whenever she would leave the villa to go into the city or wherever else she wished to go."

Bonnie murmured. "And Sybil is the reason for why Caroline ended up in the mines?"

Damon responded. "Yes, she is the main one at fault for why Caroline ended up in the mines, although Greyson Gilbert shares a good part of the fault as well."

Bonnie let out an exasperated breath. "What possible basis could Sybil have to send that poor Caroline to such a brutal, punishing plight such as the mines?"

Damon answered, feeling applauded as he recalled what Sybil did to Caroline. "She had no basis, so she made one up. She told untruths about how Caroline had stolen some precious, valuable jewels from her and how Caroline was planning to use them to sell for denari once she escaped the villas. Neither of it was true, Caroline hadn't stolen anything from her, nor was she planning on an escape."

"Yet, Sybil falsely accused her. Knowing how a slave who was accused of such would surely face severe punishment at the hands of their masters."

"Which is exactly why Sybil gave false tongue about her jewels being stolen and how Caroline was planning on running away from St. Augustine. Sybil is a cruel, vindictive, deceitful person. And it was just out of spite and her amusement that she filled her husband's ear with events that never occurred."

Bonnie commented with aversion in her tone. "Seems like my inclination not to feel pity or sorrow for the ruthless bitch was the correct one. After learning of what she did to you, plus how her intentional lies led to an innocent woman being sent to the punishing mines, I would say it was karna for a depraved woman like her to end up with a gash wound in her stomach."

Damon agreed. "Sybil met with her deserved fate, as did Greyson Gilbert for being the one to send Caroline to those mines."

Bonnie felt empathy towards Caroline. "I couldn't imagine how awful it was for her to spend months in that awful setting."

Damon looked on. "She does appear to be a shell of her former self, but who wouldn't be after all she had to go through."

"What matters now is you got her out and she has survived."

"She has survived, which is what's most important."

Bonnie turned her head towards the doorway. "She must have a ton of strength to have endured such horrors."

Damon vocalized. "Klaus would be pleased to know of her endurance."

"Klaus?"

"It was him I made promise to while he and I were still in the house of St, Augustine planning on our escape. I made promise that if he were to die, that I would make it my mission to find out where Caroline is and that I would watch over her when I did save her."

"And are you and Klaus close?"

He let out a slight chuckle. "We're almost like brothers now, but it wasn't always so between us."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

He went on. "When I first came into the ludus, Klaus was the big man there, who had a position due to all of his victories in the arena. And he and I would always but heads, as we didn't like each other much."

Her voice had some amusement to it. "You two didn't get along did you?"

"Not at all. Not at first."

"What changed between you two?"

"Somewhere along the way we found common ground. Common enough that when it came time for us to form an alliance, I was able to talk him into joining me and the other gladiators in breaking out of St. Augustine."

Bonnie figured out who Damon had mentioned to convince Klaus of joining the cause, even before Damon mentioned who.

Damon further elucidated. "Klaus and Caroline fell in love with each other while under the roof of St. Augustine. So, naturally when Caroline was sent away to the mines, he was upset, not only because he was separated from the woman he loves, but because he knew of the suffering she would have to endure where she was sent to."

"So, for her and to get back to her, he agreed to join you in breaking out of St. Augustine." Bonnie gave just the slightest smile. "Love there is no better incentive in the world than that."

"No, there is no and Klaus holds Caroline close to his heart like no other, he wished to get out at all cost to get back to her. So, when I made promise that I would aid him in finding her, that was enough to convince him to join me and the others. And with us, along with the other men he had following him in the ludus, we were able to successfully overrun the guards and get out of there."

"But, Klaus isn't with you and the rest of your group now?"

"No, he is not."

"Then where is he, is he?"

Damon knew what she was about to say. "Dead? Not that I'm aware of. As far as I know, he is still alive and was recaptured by the Roman soldiers pursuing us in the mines as we went to rescue Caroline. He stalled them just enough to allow the rest of us to avoid being captured by those soldiers."

Bonnie frowned. "They have Klaus now?"

Damon put in. "And a few of our other men."

"Where have they taken them?"

"Back to St. Augustine, I'm sure of it."

Bonnie said nothing as thoughts ran through her head.

Damon added. "There had been a moment, however fleeting, when Klaus and Caroline were reunited in the mines, but that moment was lost when Klaus got recaptured and I had to carry Caroline away from him. It was hard to do, yet I know it would be what Klaus would wish for me to do."

Bonnie muttered. "Which explains the sadness in her eyes as she was separated from the man she loves."

Damon . "It is something which weighs heavily on her heart, as she loves him as dearly as he loves her."

Because Bonnie understood what it was like to have heart ripped from chest to be forced apart from someone that she loved, because that is what it was like for her to be torn apart from her family, she felt for Caroline in the situation that Damon explained to her.

"Turns out Sybil was pregnant with child." Damon stated after a while.

"She was, Was it…" Bonnie paused in her questioning.

"Mine?" Damon's grim expression returned to his face. "Yes, at least she informed me it was."

Bonnie put the pieces together. "Yet, being stabbed in the belly would endanger any baby she happened to be impregnated with."

Damon moved his hand across his face. "The child which was inside of her, won't be able to be birthed, Klaus made sure of that."

"The gash in her stomach was inflicted upon her by…"

"Klaus." Damon finished. "He had immense grievances and anger towards Sybil for how she sent Caroline away. Knowing it was her false words that had Caroline sent to some place where she would endure brutal conditions. So, on the night we broke out, he confronted Sybil and cut her deep where he ensured she would bleed out, giving baby no chance to live."

"And how do you feel about the loss of the fetus Sybil claimed to be yours?" Bonnie asked with sensitivity.

"I felt nothing, no remorse, no grief. In a way I felt somewhat relieved, knowing something which was created by my seed wouldn't be born into the world."

Bonnie eyed him.

Damon's lips turned downward. "You must believe me to be cruel and heartless to be glad Sybil miscarried a fetus created by my seed."

Bonnie corrected him. "Actually I don't find you to be cruel and heartless at all."

"You do not?"

"I do not. I connect to how you feel and where you are coming from, because I couldn't imagine what it would be like to carry something within me that was forced upon me without consent and against my will. I wouldn't wish to be pregnant with my rapist's creation and would choose to abort it if I could."

"But, I'm a man who cannot carry child."

"Still you're a victim of having sexual acts forced upon you against your will. The fetus Sybil had within her, wasn't placed there by your choice, as you didn't want it. So, it's understandable how you would feel relieved that this baby wasn't able to be born into existence, due to the circumstances in which it was created. As harsh and as cold as some may believe it to be, victims of rape have good reason to feel disconnected and emotionally distant to a fetus created under such conditions."

Damon gestured with a softness in his eyes. "You know neither Caroline or I personally and yet you have compassion and sympathy for us both."

Bonnie returned. "It's what any human with a kind heart would do."

Damon responded. "Not every human would do so, which is why again I appreciate your compassion and aid for those of us you barely know and yet still opened up your temple to us."

Bonnie told him. "As you have shown, how considerate you are in helping me find the rest of my family, even though you don't know me. So, I say the favor and appreciation between us is balanced."

"And as for me fathering a child."

She glanced at him.

He continued. "If I shall ever become the father of a child, it will only be of my choice, because I wish to have one with the woman that I love."

She put in with some warmth to her tone. "Which is the true way a baby should be brought into this world, between a man and woman who love each other. And to parents who will raise the child with all of the devotion,dedication and love that he or she deserves."

Damon thought this was yet something else in which he and Bonnie shared common ground.

"What do you think will happen to Klaus now that he has been recaptured by the Romans?" Bonnie pondered the man's fate. "Will they force him to go back into slavery or sentence him to death?"

"I would have neither happened to him if I had the ability to stop what they were planning to do to him and the others they captured." Damon established. "They're going to punish him for sure, yet if I had the power to do anything about it, I would not have it so, I would not have it so at all."

Bonnie wondered exactly what he meant by those words.

"Well, I better go and check on what Marcel and Vincent need my attention on." Damon said. "Before they lose patience with me."

"Go ahead, I have things I must sort out and tend in this room." Bonnie directed.

With a nod, Damon left the room.

Now alone in the room, Bonnie was left with her thoughts. Her thoughts about herself, her family, Damon, Caroline and how they all had collectively suffered and lost due to the brutal, heinous atrocities that the Romans committed against them.

And she thought about the countless others who were still chained and suffering due to the actions of the Romans. She wouldn't have it so either and if she had anything to do with it, she would put her all into assisting Damon's rebels in ceasing the turmoil and oppression which the Republic made the innocent go through.

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Nighttime fell over the land as the restored villa of St. Augustine was filled with the invited and honored guests of some of the richest and most famous Roman citizens of the city. St. Augustine was now the temporary residence of the predator Atticus Shane. Atticus Shane had been the officer assigned by the Roman Senate to put down the rebellion that Damon Salvatore and his men had started.

In the opinion of Atticus Shane, spending his energy and time going after escaped slaves was beneath him. And yet the Senate had blamed him for bringing Damon Salvatore to the shores of Rome, so to them it was his job now to bring Damon and the rest of the disobedient gladiators who once lived under the roof of St. Augustine to a halt.

And since he was tasked with this specific order, he decided that he had to move into St. Augustine until the mission to bring down Damon Salvatore was completed.

Currently, the villa of St. Augustine was filled with honored Roman guests milling about it. As naked and half naked servants went around serving them wine and fruit, while other nude servants gyrated to the music which was playing. This is what often happens at gatherings with Roman citizens, as it was their culture found such sights a wonder to the eyes.

Atticus Shane sipped on some of his wine as his eyes scanned the Roman guests mingling around him.

Ben McKittirick, who belonged to one of the most noble families in all of Rome, approached him. "No one would be able to tell how a terrible tragedy took place in this villa just five months ago. Not an ounce of blood even left behind."

Atticus Shane remarked. "Because I ensured that my servants saw every last ounce of blood scrubbed from this villa and made them put it back in order to how it once was before tragedy took place."

"Why may I ask is Sybil still here?" Ben Mckittirick signaled over to where Sybil wandered around the room. "With her husband's presence not of this earth for any longer."

"My men advised me to keep Sybil around." Atticus Shane replied. "As they said, it would lift spirits after what happened five months ago. And I agree with their advice. Seeing Sybil survive the savagery and blood shed that Damon Salvatore and his animals unleashed upon this villa, is what will lift the city's hopes as Rome fights against those animals."

Ben templed his fingers. "You're correct, the sight of Sybil as the sole survivor of such violent monsority by Salvatore and his murdering horde, will be a boost to the morale of our Roman citizens."

Atticus sipped on more of his wine. "And if you would agree to having an allegiance with me, we together could put an end to Damon Salvatore and his men."

Ben questioned. "You want me to give you my men?"

"I would have you join me in pursuit of Damon and those who are helping him. So together, our combined forces will make them pay for all of the violence they have unleashed upon these lands."

"Some citizens do live in terror and fear, knowing that those animals as you put it are roaming around free, spreading more bloodshed."

"Which is why you must agree to an allegiance with me, so we can ease such fears by finishing off those rabid animals once and for all." Atticus insisted.

"Doing so would bring favor to the both of us among the Senate." Ben pointed out.

Atticus returned. "Yes, it would."

Ben gave off a smug expression. "Alright, I'll agree to your suggestion and have us join forces to bring down the whole pack of those errant slaves."

Atticus, feeling fully confident, clasped Ben on his shoulder. "With our guards and soldiers combined, Damon Salvatore and his murdering horde will not stand a chance against us. Soon they will all be sent to their graves."

"And what of the others who were apprehended in the mines?" Ben spoke of Klaus and the other three who had been apprehended and brought back to St. Augustine.

"What do you suggest we do with them?" Atticus inquired.

"I say we should give the city another boost of morale. Through spectacle of the games."

"A public execution."

"Another way to boost the morale of our citizens is by making example of some of the ones responsible for the terrible tragedy which took place in this house."

"And in making such example, we would send a strong warning to any slave or gladiator even thinking about following in Damon Salvatore's and his murdering hordes footsteps."

Ben lifted a hand. "Exactly, of course we would have to ensure that our side is victorious."

Atticus pronounced. "We will make sure our side is victorious, it is a public execution after all. Which means we set up the odds in our favor which would be too much for Salvatore's seized men to overcome."

Ben pressed. "So, then we'll have Klaus, Enzo and the others with them executed at the games."

Atticus gazed on. "Yes, it shall be a feast to behold for the eyes of the citizens of the city, to see those savages put down. We have a game in two days from now, the public execution shall be featured in the primus."

"I'll spread the word around to those who are gathered here." Said Ben. "They'll be pleased to know it and eager to see it!"

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Meanwhile across the way, was Klaus on his knees, with shackles around his ankles, as he was chained to four other men who had been captured by the Romans. Next to him was Enzo, who along with two others had been captured when they had gone into the mines to rescue Caroline. Then there was Doctore, who had been seized in a separate instance by the Romans and brought back to St. Augustine.

Klaus observed as Sybil shared conversation with Ben McKittirick. Then he watched her approach where he and the others were chained together.

Sybil looked down upon him with disdain. "Tell me, Klaus, how does it feel knowing you're back here in chains, while Damon, the one who talked you into turning against this house, is out there free?"

Klaus answered. "I'm feeling fine, uplifted actually, knowing that Damon has led Caroline to somewhere secure."

"She yet lives?" Sybil asked.

"She does." Klaus grinned.

Sybil seemed somewhat surprised by this.

Then Klaus added with some bite to his tone. "Away from the grasp of your vicious, filthy false tales and what she had to go through because of them."

"How dare you speak that way to me after what you did to me." Sybil lashed out.

Klaus shrugged.

"It is because of you." Sybil put a hand to her stomach. "That I lost my baby. You plunging your sword into me knowing I was with child."

"You took someone I cared about from me with your false tongue." Klaus retorted with anger. "And purposefully played a role in having Caroline sent away to where you knew she would have to go through agony and pain. I only balanced the scale by taking from you something I knew you wanted and held precious."

"You dare justify yourself taking life of an innocent unborn child."

"One which was made without the free will of the man you took advantage of into lying with you. You knew he couldn't say No to you and used him to fulfill your selfish desires."

Fury entered Sybil's eyes at what Klaus was saying.

Klaus sneered. "Besides you only ever intended to use that baby to hold over Damon's head, to try and get him to love you, except for when you found out he didn't, you tried to use me to kill him as punishment."

Klaus could admit that he pushed his weight around when Damon first came to the ludus. He didn't like Damon, when Damon first entered as a recruit. And would do and say things to antagonize Damon, which had caused a lot of dislike and anmoustity between the two men for the first few weeks and months after Damon's arrival.

However, Klaus grew to respect Damon as part of the brotherhood, saw him as an almost brother and in a different life could see him and Damon as close as blood brothers were. Which was why he stood up for and by Damon now.

The subject of Damon not loving her was still a bitter one for Sybil. "You dare judge me and think you know me, slave."

"I know you enough to know any child born to a woman like you would have been neglected and treated as less, once you figured out Damon didn't have feelings for you." Klaus stated in a challenging voice. "You've never really would have loved your child, because a woman with an inhuman, wicked heart like you is incapable of love for anyone besides yourself."

Sybil commented through gritted teeth. "Do not believe yourself to be superior to me, nor should you believe that you have won. You'll be dead in two days time."

Klaus gave Sybil a certain look.

"That's right, I've just been informed that you and the others will be sentenced to public execution in the games two days away from now. Where I'll be there to watch you die as payment for you killing my unborn child. You'll die in the arena that you once loved, without the glory and chants of the crowd you once cherished. And no one will remember your name in history." Sybil ranted.

Her remark made Klaus clench his jaw in frustration.

"As for Damon, he'll follow you in death for his crime in murdering Greyson, my husband who was meant to become the finest Lanista in all of the Republic and more." With that Sybil turned and stormed away.

Next to Klaus, Enzo who had heard the entire conversation spoke. "Is it wise for you to provoke the former domina of this house, with what's hanging over your head?"

"We already had death or punishment hanging over our heads from the moment we were seized in the mines." Klaus sighed. "Me speaking words of truth to Sybil wouldn't make difference in the direction the Romans intend to send us to. If I am to die, at least I gave the heartless cunt a piece of my mind before doing so."

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Author's Note: This story is written in the AU. So none of the relationship dynamics and interactions on the show have occurred in this story. As they all will be starting and happening from fresh and new angles and dynamics in this story.

So for example, Kai and Katherine are seen as villains on the show. But, in this story they'll be a part of the rebellion and with the protagonists in this story.

I'm trying to make it as close to the way they spoke on the show Spartacus as I can. So some of the dialogue may look off grammar wise or may not seem like proper English.

Thank you all for reading, supporting, reviewing, following and favoriting this story so far!