A/N: Thank you all so much for all of the support you've given to this so far. I'm going on vacation for a week and I don't know how much access to the internet I will have, but here is the next chapter of The Road to Ruin. I hope you like it!
The Road to Ruin (we started at the end)
Chapter Two
Cassia sat away from the others, keeping her back to the wall as she kept her eyes on the people presented. Janus was tucked into her side, fiddling with her stola. Valeria was wide awake, cooing softly. Cassia rocked her slightly. There was loud laughter, and while eyes turned their way, none spoke to her.
She watched as Spartacus exited the room she had left and caught sight of her. He made his way over and knelt in front of her, looking over her carefully. She saw that his gaze did not linger long on her scars. Cassia waited for him to speak.
"Apologies," he said. "For my friend, but you should not have prodded him so."
"I speak only the truth."
"Why do this? You have fulfilled your promise. You are under no obligation to remain. Why do you accept such imposition?"
"Obligation?" Cassia raised her eyebrows. This was the man that had been spoken of with such whispers? "Ought I have allowed them to have starved, been sold? I have an obligation to decency – and if you are unfamiliar with such virtues, then perhaps reeducate yourself." She watched as a smile slowly broke out on his face and he nodded.
"You have done a great service and tempted great risk. I would welcome you to stay, join us."
"I fear I have little choice in the matter," Cassia said softly. "The search for any that would be connected to you so increases by the day. I am a free woman, but it is no longer safe for one such as I. Gratitude."
Spartacus nodded and stood up. He turned to go, but paused and spoke again. "Varro is a good man, one who loves his children and wife dearly. Let them learn him, as I have."
"I would not stop him," Cassia looked up at him. "Should he prove himself as such. He is more than welcome to their company, but I fear they shall not be parted from me so easily."
"No, I think not," he agreed. He nodded at her once again, which she returned, before walking away.
Varro watched the woman keep herself separated from all others. Her words rang in his ears, her threat to leave. It was unthinkable, but there was something about the way that she said it that he knew she would try. This woman dug under his skin with her words. He was not proud of his reply, but her response angered him still.
Spartacus informed him of her decision to stay, to join with them. It relieved him to know that his children would ever be close. He would keep them safe and he would have to learn this woman whom Aurelia held in such regard. He remembered her words to him when she told him of hiding. She had spoken with a smile about the woman, and though Varro could scarcely see the reason, he would honour her regard. Varro would teach this woman that he was a father, that he had the honour she thought he lacked. He would not see his children stripped from him again.
He walked up to her slowly and her gaze caught him instantly. It seemed as if she judged his every action. He knelt in front of her and saw that Janus had yet again fallen to slumber.
"He is so quiet," he said.
"Not always," she replied. "It has been a long journey and he has faced much in his small years."
"Would that I could have been there." He looked at her and the scars that she bore. They looked as if she had seen battle, but she was so small that he could not imagine it so. "I know not your name."
"Cassia." She shifted slightly, moving the babe in her arms before handing her to him. "Here, meet your daughter."
He reached out and took the child from her, holding her to his chest. "She is so small!" he said. The child looked at him and he felt his heart stop. "She resembles Aurelia."
"Yes," Cassia's voice was soft. "Very much so."
He stared at the babe as it cooed at him and he smiled before turning his gaze to Cassia. "You accept such a promise, and remain with us. What of your husband and children?"
"I have none," she replied.
"None? Spartacus said you are a free woman, how have you remained so? How many years do you have?"
"I was not always so."
"You were a slave? How were you freed?"
"It is of no matter," she said.
"And you would challenge your freedom?" Varro asked. "You would give it away for my children?"
"For Aurelia's children. I gave no thought to you."
Varro prayed for patience. "I had not asked you to," he ground out. "Had I known of their fate, I would have –"
"What?" Cassia snapped. "You would have searched for them more than you had? You would have taken them in? A father who helped murder his masters and the nobles of Capua?"
"As opposed to a scarred woman alone in the world? One who has no family?"
"Better a scarred woman alone than a slave turned criminal. I would not have these children raised with your blood stained hands until I know that what Aurelia claimed rings true."
"You cannot keep me from them!" Varro snapped, looking at this slip of a woman who showed no fear facing him. Even still, she refused the truth.
"I do not intend to, but I will not be moved from them." She stared defiantly at him.
"Then I will see them moved from you." He knelt down, waking Janus is his attempt to lift him. Cassia stood as he claimed the children, and he nodded at her before walking away. He did not get two steps before Janus started crying. The boy kicked and screamed in his arms, reaching for the woman he had planned to leave behind. His cries startled his sister into following.
Attention turned towards them and the further Varro stepped from Cassia, the louder Janus cried. Shouts were heard to stop it, to make the child quiet. Varro clenched his jaw before turning back. Cassia remained where she was, but there was a small smirk on her lips. It made her look almost cruel with her scars.
"They do not know you," Cassia said.
Varro returned to her and Janus stretched out to reach Cassia. She took him in her arms and the Varro watched as the boy settled against her. "They will," he promised.
She nodded in acknowledgement, but he said nothing further as he handed his daughter to her. His heart clenched as he heard her whisper to the children. He would see their affection returned to him.
More men had arrived in the night. Calls and cheers were made as they arrived and Cassia had moved further away from the crowd. She did not know them and would not trust them simply because of their supposed allegiance.
"You do not have to fear them," a voice said.
Cassia turned to look at the speaker and recognized the woman who had come to claim Aurelia. "Apologies," Cassia said. "I would not take your word."
The woman nodded and sat down in front of her. She handed Cassia a bowl filled with food. "For you and the children."
"Gratitude." Valeria was asleep against her chest, but Janus was awake and watching the men in the distance. She handed the bowl to him and watched as he ate. She would see to him first before herself.
"None needed. I am Mira."
"Cassia."
"You are welcome here Cassia. Spartacus is a good man and he will see us safe." Mira smiled at Cassia, but she could not return the gesture.
"And what of the others? The numbers are less than expected. Are you to remain here?"
"Varro, Crixus and Agron are well trusted by Spartacus. The others will follow him. Now that you and Varro's children are found, the search is left for Naevia."
"Naevia?"
"A friend and the woman Crixus loves. She was sold by Batiatus after the two were discovered." Mira gave a small smile. "We have hope to find her."
"You shall need it. The nobles are afraid and angry. They would see all of your heads from your bodies."
"They shall die trying," Mira promised.
There was silence between them and Cassia looked at Janus. The boy was staring at Mira. The woman smiled at the boy and made a face at him. She changed expressions until Cassia heard the boy giggle. Cassia smiled.
"You do well by them. You have done great service to Varro. He has talked of nothing since we escaped."
"It was not for him that I found you. I made promise to Aurelia I would see her children safe."
"And you have." Mira stood up and smiled once again. "It is good to have more female company."
Cassia nodded and watched the woman walk away. She looked down at Janus and saw that he had eaten everything. She rubbed the top of his head and moved the bowl away, allowing him to lie down and rest his head on her leg.
"You have not eaten." Varro appeared beside her. He sat down next to her, with Janus in between them.
"I would see them fed before myself."
"Here," he handed her a bowl, half filled with food. She watched him carefully, looking for a reason and the price. "Take it. If you insist on staying, then you shall need strength."
"And the price?"
"...I would ask you tell me of Aurelia."
She stared at him for a moment before nodding. She took the bowl from him and ate quickly, pausing for a moment when she realized it was of his own portion. Why he had sacrificed it to her, she was uncertain. "What would you know?"
"All you would tell."
Cassia paused for a moment, considering her tale. "I knew none such as her. Fair and delicate, Aurelia cared deeply for those she loved. That I was worthy of such things was an honour." She saw him smile. "When I first came upon her, she spoke of her fear for you. She feared the gods would take you from her and that you would not know your son."
"Would that they did, so that she may live."
"Her fate may have been sealed upon Titus's actions." She watched his jaw clench at the reminder. "Aurelia reclaimed her honour and ensured he would never take up such action again. Do not live in the past, with actions you did not take. Aurelia's heart would had lifted upon seeing you again."
"As would mine." He looked sad, lost in memory.
"She spoke of nothing less. Her dreams were filled with your freedom and her love for you vast. She told Janus tales of you and when she lived in my home I heard nothing else. She drew strength from your memory."
"When I last saw her and held her in my arms, she had changed. Her joy knew no bounds, but gone was the fear that had claimed her. I feared I no longer knew her," he said softly.
"She came into her own in your absence. What was there before still remained, she only grew stronger."
His name was called across the passageway and he stood up. He smiled down at her. "Gratitude for your words."
Cassia nodded and watched as he walked away. She shifted back, closer to the shadows and waited.
Cassia awoke to raised voices near her.
"Fucking Gaul," a familiar voice snarled. Cassia raised herself and looked to see Agron and another man arguing close by.
"Worthless shit. At least you bear the mark of the Brotherhood. I return and find yet more helpless mouths to feed? Why – "
"Hold fucking tongue!" Agron cut him off. "Those mouths are the children of Varro, and the woman who brought them."
At this, the man arguing with Agron turned to her. Cassia stared back. He was large and his anger radiated from him. It seemed to fade suddenly upon sight of her. "He found them?"
"She found us."
The man came closer to her and Cassia moved suddenly, ensuring that one of her hands was on Janus and the other on the dagger against her thigh. He knelt in front of her.
"How did you come to find us?"
Cassia met his eyes carefully and saw only concern and curiosity. "Through long wait and use of my eyes and ears. I came across your man being followed and did so myself. He led me hence."
"In your wait, did you hear the name of Naevia?" Suddenly, it became clear to Cassia to whom she spoke to. This must be Crixus.
"Apologies," she said softly. "I heard no such name."
His face seem to crumple before resolve entered his eyes. "How did you come by those scars?"
It was the first she was asked since her arrival. "They were the price for my freedom."
"You were a slave?"
"For a time." Cassia watched Crixus closely. "As were you."
"So it seems," he snorted. "I am Crixus."
"Cassia," she nodded towards the boy that still lay sleeping. "This is Janus and the babe is Valeria."
He watched her for a moment before he nodded back. "Return to sleep. We will keep you safe." He stood and walked away. Cassia prayed his words rang true. She would not have the children endangered.
She looked up to see Agron still standing there, watching her.
"The Gaul is a fucking fuck, but he speaks truth."
"We shall see," she replied. He scoffed before turning to follow Crixus. She sat quietly, hoping their words gave way to truth.
"I see you are making friends."
Cassia looked up from where she was sitting. Varro was walking over to her, looking at the direction the others had left in. "So it would seem. The children yet sleep."
"What did he ask of you?" Varro sat down next to the still slumbering Janus. Cassia looked at him in confusion, wondering of his purpose. They had parted well, but she still did not see the man that Aurelia did. Was he trying to gain her confidence to sway her?
"Of Naevia and my scars."
"Your scars?" He glanced at her face and she was suddenly grateful that the scars on her chest were hidden by Valeria. "How did you come by them?"
"They were a price," she said. "For my freedom."
"Such a cost to mar you so."
"I would not have it else wise." Cassia looked away. He would not understand her meaning and she would not give it. The scars were a small price for what she was given, and she could handle any results from them. She changed course. "There is a game Janus likes to play. If you lay your hands on the ground, he tries to hit them while you pull them away. If you would play it, you would gain his attention much quicker."
"To what purpose would you tell me such?"
She shrugged. "To allow you to know your son. While you yet live." He grinned at her suddenly.
"You think so little of my skills?"
"If the gods would have you, they are welcome to you." He laughed, and she felt the baby stir. "Hold tongue," she snapped. "Or remove yourself. I would not have you wake them."
"Apologies," he said softly. "I did not mean harm." His hand brushed over Janus's curls and sadness entered his eyes. He forced a smile at her. "I take my leave." He left as suddenly as he had arrived. Cassia leant back against the wall she sat by. It was a strange place and the people uncertain, but Cassia would remain presently. She prayed that it was the right decision.
[tbc]
