A/N: Thank you so much for reviewing and letting me know that you're enjoying the idea! When these chapters start getting more intense and longer as time goes by in the story, I will probably update on a weekly basis. While the chapters are shorter, it'll probably be faster.


Chapter 2: From Here On Out

July 27th, 79 AD

It was dark by the time Brittany finally arrived at the great walls of Pompeii. Taking it in, Brittany's eyes sparked in the ever growing moonlight, her body simply bursting with how this was the place that would finally give her opportunity. The thoughts in her head were beautiful, but actually approaching the city itself was even more spectacular. It hadn't really yet sunk in that this would be the place where her life would change; where her new home, new job, new 'family' of sorts and new life was waiting for her.

She felt so lucky.

"It's beautiful.." Brittany breathed, eyes wide as they crept ever closer to the exquisite entrances.

"That it is. It's a world away from where you grew up." The driver replied quietly, a distance tone etched behind his voice that Brittany couldn't quite pick up on. "How old are you? You can't be older than 17 years."

"In a few months." Brittany replied with a smile. It had been a very quiet ride and she was thankful for the distraction to overcome the anticipation of soon being inside the city walls.

"Married?"

"No." Brittany answered simply. There wasn't really anyone her father knew that was in need of a wife, nor did she know anyone who had the money. Even if she was a few years older than girls would be married off, it wasn't really something she cared about. She didn't need a husband or a family of her own.

With just a nod from the old man, they fell into a silence as they crossed the walls into the city, fire lanterns on the street and within the homes lighting the street in a comfortable glow. To her right, there was a small garden with delicately trimmed bushes, a few locals enjoying the first hours of the night, talking among one another, sending out a comfortable hum into the atmosphere.

As they continued down the stone road, Brittany looked up at the large houses, intricate stone work and paintings all around them as they plodded on. Small crowds started moving in front and behind them as they passed to side streets. Gladiators walked in fancy armour, laughing and hitting one another in the shoulders, followed by a posse of young girls Brittany's age, dressed in the most beautiful tunicas of colors that she had only ever seen on flowers. Behind the cart, young children began to follow; giggling as their mothers and child-carers chased them down to put them down to bed.

The deeper into the city they drove, the more barren it got of people as the evening set in. Before long, they were slowing down to a halt, the donkey letting out a sort of relief as they stopped in front of a courtyard belonging to a grand villa.

This must be her new home.

"He'll be waiting for you inside the doors, in the entrance hall. Give my best," The driver spoke up, giving Brittany the reassurance she needed to climb off the back of the cart, her legs shaking from both the long drive and her excited nerves.

"Thank you," Brittany smiled as she turned to the driver.

There was a poignant look on his face that Brittany couldn't quite detect. He looked worried. Troubled… Helpless. It was as though he was silently wishing her luck for a fight; one that you already know will end in a fatality. With just a nod of his head, he drove off, leaving Brittany standing behind, her eyebrows knitted together in thought.

Deciding to brush it off, Brittany turned on her sandal covered heels and made her way to the villa doors.

xXx

As soon as she stepped into the entrance hall, Brittany knew just how rich this family was. Just this one room was bigger than the house that she and her parents lived in. The floor and walls were decorated with color; small mosaic floor tiles framed the room, fitting beautifully against the extravagant paintings on the walls that seemed to show everything from romance, to heroic fighting, to imagery of the almighty Gods. All around the room, pedestals housed beautiful vases and statues; one of the largest collections Brittany had ever had the pleasure to see with her own eyes.

The lighting in the room was warm and friendly, lit by lamps adorning the walls, inviting Brittany in and to close the door behind her, letting her feast her eyes on the treasured in front of her. Reaching out her slender fingers, the young blonde reached out to trace the chiselled face of a stone, carved man.

A voice echoed through the space around her, causing her heart to tump in her chest.

"You must be Brittany, I presume,"

Whipping around on her feet, Brittany's eyes fell on a man she knew instantly to be her new master.

He wasn't too old; about the same age as her own parents. His skin was a dark, sun-kissed tan, not bursting with youth but shining with health. His broad shoulders and strong looking body were covered in a dark green expensive looking tunic, adorned with broaches and jewels with more shine than Brittany had even seen at the temple in Oplontis. His expressionless face was topped with black hair, grey streaks running through it like strands of precious metal. He looked like someone that Brittany had only really ever seen at a distance, or in a mural. Definitely as great as she imagined.

"Yes. I just arrived.. The driver said to step in.. I'm sorry.. I-," Brittany stumbled over her words, lowering her eyes after realising that she was staring pretty intensely.

"Of course. You live here now." He cut in, raising his hand to cease her rambles, which the young blonde was very grateful for.

There was a pregnant pause as he let his eyes scan her body and suddenly, she felt embarrassed by her clothing. It was tattered and discolored, completely contrasting the extravagance of the house. Her hair was falling around her face in tatters where it had fallen out of its tie on the journey. But still, she watched him watch her, resisting the urge to curl up into herself.

After a long moment, the dark man nodded to himself, lips pursed as his eyes trailed back to her own, boring into her with a glint she had yet to detect.

"Come. You must be hungry. Tonight, you'll rest and settle before Aelia will show you to your jobs tomorrow,"

Nodding, Brittany instantly started to walk as soon as her new master gestured with his hand to follow him out of the entrance hall and through a courtyard, lit with a warm yellow glow.

"Who is Aelia?" Brittany asked, her hands clasped in front of her as she walked, resisting the urge to look around and miss a word that may come from his mouth.

"She is my oldest and most wise house-slave." He explained, speaking in what Brittany could have mistaken for a joyful tone. "She has been here for many years and will show you all you need to know. How to please me."

Nodding silently, Brittany kept up at his heel until they turned a corner to walk through another door.

What hit Brittany first was the smell. There was evidence of a great meal, the scent of spices and warmth filled her nostrils and made her stomach ache with want. In the middle of the room, a great table sat surrounded by over a dozen heavy, wooden chairs. Moving around the table, there was a crowd of men and women, ranging in age, clearing and cleaning the last remaining cups and plates on the surfaces. There was no sign of food and it was easy to presume that she had arrived late.

The moment the master made their presence known by a double smack of his palms together, all eyes turned to Brittany. Some appeared bored by her presence, others inquisitive and interested. She couldn't help but notice that they all looked vastly different from her. Whereas she was golden haired, blue eyed; that her father often described being like that of a goddess and a miracle, she was alone in the room. Everyone she could see had dark features – hair, eyebrows and eyes ranging from olden grey, to light brown to black.

Torn away from her staring, they were approached by a small, thin looking man, clutching a small parcel in his hands and offering it to Brittany. "We saved some of the meal. We hear you had a long journey," He smiled softly as she took the package, thanking him with a smile of her own.

"Thank you Gaius. You are excused." The master spoke, stealing the dark haired man's attention away from Brittany.

The young man, Gaius, nodded his head before walking away, through a door and out of sight.

Looking down at the brown cloth wrapped package in her hands, Brittany turned it over before the master addressed her once again.

"You may eat in the courtyard. Aelia will be along once she had finished with kitchen duties to show you to your quarters."

Brittany replied with a nod.

"I must go to continue the night with my family and acquaintances. Sleep well,"

xXx

Brittany had already decided that she liked the courtyard. Without the intimidating presence of her new master, she was free to walk around and let her eyes feast on the place that was now her new home. With the sun long gone, it was cool; skies cleared from any clouds to let the moon and stars light up the silhouette of the house.

With a small smile on her lips, Brittany tore off another piece of bread, bringing it to her lips, satisfied with how her hunger had subsided. It wasn't much; just some bread and cheese, but the portion was bigger than what she was used to in Oplontis. Instead of going to bed hungry, she would sleep easy tonight.

A series of loud, booming laughs cut through her thoughts, coming from a wing to the left of where she sat on a stone bench. Turning her head, Brittany peered through the windows, eyes squinting to adjust from the darkness outside to the warm glow.

There were many noble looking men sat around the room, great goblets in their hands as they talked amongst one another, animated in their amusement. The room was framed with many books and beautiful paintings; the wonderful culture that Brittany always dreamed to be around. As the sound of a soft string instruments melody travelled towards her, Brittany closed her eyes for just a moment as she smiled. This place was going to be everything she thought it would be.

Opening her eyes, the smile faded from her face slowly as her eyes settled on another figure in the room.

She was sat apart from the men, her dark eyes seemingly deep and bored with the conversations going on around her; the golden goblet sitting limply in her hands as she took a sip. When the cup finally fell from her lips, Brittany watched as a pink tongue moved to lick the remaining liquid from her full lips – Brittany's own falling to open. Her skin was tan, body covered in a vibrant red tunica, clinging to her slender shoulders like a body of silky water. As she turned her head, the long black, silky mane of hair swayed, framing her delicate face in the most tender of ways.

Brittany had never seen someone so beautiful in her whole life.

When the girl turned to look through the same window, Brittany's heart thudded against her ribs as their eyes connected. Her palms felt sweaty under her dark gaze, yet she was unable to tear away. Her body seized, leaving her unable to move; a victim to this beautiful goddess of a woman. There was no way that she existed in real life. If anything, her parents were praying for her, and this goddess had been send down to act as her guardian.

As if able to sense her body failures, the woman's lip curled in amusement as Brittany's breath caught in her thick throat.

"Brittany?"

The sound of her name sent a shock through the young girls' body, as though she was suddenly animated back into life again, turning around in bewilderment to find the figure of an older woman standing beside where she sat.

"I-.. Yes. That's me. I'm Brittany," She stuttered, rising to her feet and almost dropping the package she forgot she had nestled in her hands.

"My, my.. You are a pretty one," The grey haired lady smiled, though Brittany had a tough time believing her after the godlike beauty she had just had the pleasure to lay eyes on.

There was beauty.. And then there was her.

"There's no need to be shy. We are family now. You can call me Aelia." Brittany instantly recognised the name, and felt herself relax as her heart began to calm. The woman's eyes were soft and felt home-like. Brittany had already decided that she liked this woman.

Chuckling to herself, Aelia motioned for Brittany to follow.

"Come, child. It has been a long journey for you, I hear."

Nodding in response, Brittany watched as Aelia turned to walk away, not being able to resist peering back through the window.

The beauty was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps she imagined her.

Bringing her lip between her teeth, Brittany fought back a sigh before following on Aelia's heels towards where she would be sleeping. Tomorrow was a new day, but for now, she knew only one thing.

She would dream of her Goddess guardian tonight.