I DO NOT OWN SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA.
Florentia, Roman Republic. 3 weeks later.
For the next few weeks, Flavius rode hard on the roads of Rome. It was many hundreds of miles from Corinth to Florentia, but Flavius knew that he had to get back to his family. He feared that they would face retribution for his act of treachery against Septimus. It was a hard and painful journey for the Roman. His military career was dead and Flavius knew that he was captured, he would surly be crucified for striking a superior officer. During the day, Flavius rode on the roads and at night, he slept in the fields for he had no money to speak of. He gained food by making wagers or even stealing to fill his belly. It vexed Flavius's spirit, but surviving and making it home to his mother and sister took precedence over all other things. Finally, after many weeks on horseback, Flavius arrived in his home town of Florentia.
"Praise Jupiter!" He exclaimed as he steered his horse in the direction of the Seuso family villa. However, as he rode, he heard a horse galloping behind him at full speed. Flavius turned just in time to see a Roman centurion deliver a hard blow to his head and knock him off of his steed. Before Flavius fell into darkness, he saw the soldier spit on him.
When Flavius woke up many hours later, he was not only bound, but looked up and saw none other than his Legatus above him. Augurnus was flanked by Claudius Glaber.
"Gratitude Glaber, for finding this fugitivus." He said as the second in command smirked.
"He returned home, as I knew he would." Glaber replied as another soldier lifted Flavius onto his knees so that Septimus could look him in the eye.
"Well, we meet again...traitorous shit!" he snarled as he struck his former soldier across the face.
"I did nothing but save an innocent woman from being raped!" Flavius retorted.
"Women are the same as currency and beasts." the Legatus replied. "Spoils of war, nothing more!"
"You lie!" Flavius shouted as he earned another slap.
"Bring them!" Septimus shouted as to Flavius's horror, Roman soldiers brought his mother Pescennia and his sister Messiena before him. The women were disheveled and in chains.
"No!" Flavius exclaimed as he struggled against his captors. "Leave them be, your quarrel is with me alone!"
"The innocent shall suffer with the guilty." Legatus Augurnus stated as the Seuso women looked at him with hate.
"Leave my brother be!" Messiena exclaimed as Septimus went over to the eldest Seuso.
"You both have been condemned to slavery, courtesy of your son and brother." he spat.
"No!" Flavius yelled as he struggled to get free. Meanwhile, Pescennia was done listening to Augurnus and bit his hand.
"Damn you!" The Legatus shouted as he struggled to get his hand free. After a minute or so, Septimus pulled his hand out of her mouth. It was covered in blood as she had bit down extremely hard.
"May Jupiter strike you down!" Pescennia exclaimed as Septimus spat on her.
"You will pay for that bitch!" He roared as he unsheathed his sword and rammed it down the throat of Flavius's mother.
"NO!" Flavius screamed as blood ran out of his mother's mouth.
"MOTHER!" Messiena screamed as well. The woman fell dead in her own blood as Septimus cleaned his sword on her dress.
"You fuck!" Flavius shouted as he shot daggers at his former Legatus. "I will fucking kill you!"
"You won't have the chance." Septimus assured him as he went over to Messiena and grabbed her by the hair. "Glaber, take this wench to the port of Neapolis. Give to one of the slave merhcants and have him sell her for a slave."
"Yes Legatus," Glaber said as he went to grab her.
"NO!" Flavius yelled as Glaber grabbed his sister.
"And you will sell her cheap." Septimus added as his subordinate carried her off.
"Flavius!" she cried out as she tried to fight the Roman officer.
"Messiena!" He cried out in return as she was drug off to a waiting horse.
"You shall soon join your mother in the afterlife," Septimus vowed as Flavius struggled.
"What is your meaning?" he asked in rage.
"I go to the city of Capua on military business." He explained. "They have an arena there; a pitiful arena perhaps, but an arena nonetheless. You ruined my campaign and defied my authority. For your crimes against the auxiliary and against Rome itself, I will see you executed ad gladium." Flavius knew his fate. He would be thrown into the arena and die at the hands of a gladiator to the roar of the crowd. A base thing to entertain the common people of Capua.
NEXT TIME, FLAVIUS IS THROWN INTO THE ARENA AT CAPUA. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.