A/N: Sorry this took a little longer than I planned to! It took me some time to get a dynamic set between the two of them and I moved countries half way through writing this! Thank you for sticking with me and enjoy!
Chapter 4: Dark Eyes
July 29th, 79 AD
Brittany had another sleepless night.
When she had made her way back to the slaves quarters, her legs were shaking and she felt sick to her stomach. Looking back, she could barely remember what she was doing, as though her body was just going through the motions rather than feeling or thinking anything. Aelia was waiting up for her with a soft cloth and a bucket of lukewarm water so clean her up and sooth her. Now she had a fresh mind, it was easy to see that it wasn't really that uncommon. After all, people with wealth like Master Loukas had the means to buy slaves for whatever they wanted. She was just a prize for him. An object that he could use in whatever way pleased him.
Sighing to herself, Brittany winced as she picked up the heavy basket of wet and washed tunics, carrying them out into the courtyard. She was sore, but not just between her thighs and in her stomach. Her body ached with the effect of the new work load and no sleep. She hurt physically and mentally. This amazing city where she was supposed to start her life was slowly starting to show cracks into the Underworld.
Lifting up another heavy tunic to hang up on the drying bars, Brittany felt her heart sink. This was going to be her life now and there was no way to get out of it. Aelia had repeatedly told her that it was going to get better, and she wondered if she had experienced what she had with Master Loukas.. Or even if it was still happening now. Perhaps it got easier the more it happened.
"Make sure you straighten out the fabrics. I refuse to wear anything that's crinkled dry."
The voice from behind the fabric caught Brittany by surprise. It was a woman, and not one Brittany had heard before. The authority tone sounded a lot like the master, and it made her heart start speeding up in her chest.
"I'm sorry, I'll make sure I do it right." Brittany spoke back quietly, smoothing out the current tunica. She knew it was her place to always do what was asked of her. It was the one rule that Aelia had made sure she knew. No matter who it was; be it the family or another slave, because Brittany was at the lowest possibly position as not only the newest, but the youngest.
Not hearing another footstep, Brittany couldn't help but feel like the mystery women with the voice was still behind the fabric and couldn't stop herself from being interested. People fascinated her. Back in her hometown, Brittany used to watch them go about their business with no other reason than her own personal enjoyment. It was interesting to see why and how people did things differently. As usual, Brittany let her curiosity get the best of her, peering around the side of the dark blue fabric.
She could feel it in her chest before it could register in her head.
The dark, raven hair was more than familiar, hung up in a bun, loose ringlets escaping and framing the young woman's tan face; her mocha eyes deep and inquisitive as they locked with her own. In the sunlight, she was even more a picture than she had been from a distance, the rays bouncing off her frame in delicate beams to make her glow.
She was real.
Finally taking in a deep breath, Brittany found that her words were lost in her throat. What would one say to a Goddess?
"The girl from the courtyard." The regal beauty spoke quietly, eyes widening as she took in her appearance. The night before, Brittany had been naked and vulnerable in front of someone else but now, she felt that way for a whole other reason. Her chest was increasingly warming as the woman scanned her deeply, making her feel more alive than she could ever remember.
Her eyes were deep and dark, soaking in Brittany's appearance as easily and fluidly as a piece of dry fabric would soak up water. Since arriving at the house, Brittany had been examined and stared at in every way she could imagine, but nothing quite like this. Instead of feeling insignificant and vulnerable or like a piece of meat under the stare, Brittany felt everything. She felt small, but empowered. She felt like somebody.
"I know you're not a mute. You just spoke to me."
Brittany could see the teasing smirk creeping on the woman's lips, and Brittany couldn't help but smile back instinctively, body unfreezing from t's initial shock. The menacing tone from before had fallen, and Brittany could have melted with how silky smooth her voice was.
"I.. Sorry, you caught me by surprise," Brittany responded, her cheeks rapidly growing pink as she averted her gaze, very much noticing that she was staring.
"You apologise a lot, don't you?" The girl questioned, a hand moving to her hip as she continued to smirk. "You shouldn't."
Eyes snapping back to the young girls, Brittany nodded gently. She couldn't have been much older than Brittany herself, and she couldn't help but feel curious to know everything about her. Who was she? Why was she here? What kind of magic was she using to make Brittany feel the way she did?
Turning her head as she heard the sound of distant footsteps, Brittany watched as another slave walked from room to room and realized it wasn't her place to stop working.
Bending down to pick up another fabric, Brittany got back to her light work.
She could still feel those dark eyes boring into her.
"My father told me he had gotten a fair girl." The young woman pierced the silence again, stealing Brittany's attention back from the fabrics, heart stopping in her chest.
The Masters daughter.
"I should have guessed when I saw you out here that night. It's not like we get many light haired people around that often, unless they are older friends of my fathers, who work with him. He's been talking about your arrival with his friends for a while." The girl continued, Brittany staring at her, "I suppose I wasn't thinking."
A silence fell over the two of them, locking eyes. Brittany wasn't too sure what emotions she could see flashing over the girls face in quick succession, but it was nothing like her fathers. This girl had warmth in her dark eyes that seemed to soften as they focused on Brittany. It made Brittany feel safe and more at home than she had since she arrived.
"I thought you were a Goddess." Brittany blurted, her cheeks instantly heating as she looked away, eyes falling down to the sheet in her hands. It didn't take a genius to tell her that she should have kept that to herself. She had to be mature in this house – there was no room for childish fantasies.
After a deafening moment of silence, the sound of a sweet laugh filled the courtyard.
"You're funny." The girl responded, forcing Brittany to raise her eye. There was a sweet, bright smile on the girls face, giving off the appearance that she was practically glowing.
Something told Brittany that she didn't smile often.
"My name is Santana." The girl continued, holding out her hand to Brittany. All of a sudden, Britany became all too aware with how sweaty her palms felt.
Reaching out gingerly, Brittany took Santana's hand in an awkward embrace, shaking it softly. It was warm and felt like the smoothest of silk. If she needed any conformation that Santana was real, this was it. Her name was almost as beautiful as she was. It was the most perfect fit.
"I'm um.. Brittany." The blonde responded, not even sure why she would stutter over telling her name. It was one of the first things children learned what to say as they grew but this girl made her forget.
"Um Brittany. What an interesting name." Santana responded and Brittany had half a mind to quickly correct her until she saw the tell-tale sign of a teasing smirk.
Darn that smirk.
Just as Brittany was about to open her mouth, a new set of footsteps echoed around the courtyard as someone penetrated their little bubble.
"Brittany, Aelia has asked to see you in the quarters to help her and some other women with the bedding, " Gaius chimed as he walked towards them, but even Brittany couldn't predict what would happen next.
"Can't you see that Brittany is busy with me, you idiot?" Santana snapped, her eyes filling with an untold rage as she turned on the boy. Gaius looked as though she had struck him with her bare hand.
"I'm sorry mistress I ju-"
"If you like sleeping in a bed, I suggest going to tell Aelia that Brittany is busy and don't even dare think about coming near me again."
Brittany hadn't expected such ice on the beautiful girls tongue but by the look on Gaius' face, he wasn't too surprised. Scared? Yes, but not shocked.
"Sorry Mistress."
After mumbling his excuses, Gaius scrambled out of sight and Santana turned her softened face towards her. By the way her dark eyes seemed to mutter a thousand apologizes, Brittany assumed that she must have looked frightened.
She wasn't used to anger. Not from anyone.
"I was enjoying talking to you and I don't appreciate interruptions." Santana offered, smoothing the front of her beautiful tunica.
Not really sure what to say, Brittany nodded in understanding. She felt sorry for Gaius, who only had the best intensions. He didn't deserve the verbal lashing. What if Santana was just like her Father. She seemed nice to everyone until you scratched under the surface.
Brittany hoped that wasn't the case.
Looking back up into Santana's eyes, Brittany saw darkness beneath them. It wasn't like the cheeky glint she had felt herself falling into before. It was different, and Brittany wished, more than anything, to be able to read her thoughts.
She could see regret.
"I shall leave you to your work." Santana spoke softly, no hint of her previous bite. "I shall see you around, Brittany."
With that, Santana was gone.
Brittany wanted to tell her to stay.
xXx
After her work was finished for the day, Brittany spent the rest of her evening in the courtyards.
Since Santana walked away from her and disappeared, Brittany had felt lie a zombie. She had never really gotten t he chance to think deeply about another person before until she saw Santana out of the window. Some part of her thought that seeing her again would have put her mind at rest, but it was the opposite. Now she knew what she looked like up close. She knew what she sounded like and she knew the touch of her hand.
Brittany couldn't get her out of her mind.
Finding the bench she had sat on during her first night in the house, Brittany let out a soft sigh. The wind was blowing gently, ruffling up her loose falling hair. Things had changed so much for her in the past 24 hours, and she was starting to wonder if Pompeii was the right decision.
As if it was instinctual, Brittany turned her head to the side, her eyes falling on a familiar city was beautiful and the house was expansive. Her work was hard but strangely rewarding. She already valued the few acquaintances she knew by name in the slaves quarters and the rest seemed friendly towards her. Brittany never felt as though she belonged anywhere before and here, she thought she finally might. It was a community and she was a little puzzle piece that was needed to make a bigger picture. She had been hand chosen to make her life here.
But she had been chosen for all the wrong reasons.
Clenching her thighs together, Brittany had to fight the heavy feeling that set into her stomach. Aelia had seemed prepared the night before to take care of Brittany, which gave the impression that the Master often took his female slaves away. He had talked of her looks and hair in such a vulgar way, Brittany had never felt less beautiful in her life.
But she was here to do whatever was asked of her. It would get easier; just like learning to walk, talk and wash linens. Everything got easier.
Santana was sat in her chair, within the window. Her face was wrinkled with the perplexed expression that she had seen before. Her eyes were dark and hazed, drowning out the booming laughing and animated talking muffled by the walls of the house. She seemed troubled.
Brittany wondered if she was thinking about her too.
