Chapter 15

Methos's Apartment

Methos was sat sprawled over the armchair reading Lopez's Chronicle, his legs dangling over one arm while his head rested between the backrest and the other arm, he absent mindly reached over to the beer bottle on the small table beside the chair. As he lifted the bottle towards his lips he sighed as he realised that it was empty.

Methos swung his legs round as he dropped the Chronicle onto the table as he got to his feet. It had made an interesting read, he had just got to Lopez's part in the Spanish Inquisitions, his Watcher had given such good details that Methos could almost smell the scent of death and hear the screams of the dying. He knew that this Watcher must have worked closely with Lopez to have so much detail. Methos walked into the kitchen, he opened the fridge door and leaned in. He couldn't make up his mind whether he was hungry or not, finally he just reached for another beer. He undid the lid, he kicked the fridge door closed as he tossed the lid into the trashcan by the sink.

He wandered back to the armchair sipping the beer as he went. He flopped down in the chair and placed the bottle onto the table before reaching for the Chronicle. He stared at the pages for a short while, he then decided that the history lesson, although interesting would have to wait, he had to fast-forward nearer to the present day to find what he needed. He flicked over the pages his finger running over the paper as he glanced at the contents.

He re-read how Jonathan Knight had died, from the Watcher's account he been an accomplished swordsman and hadn't made it easy for Lopez, but the Immortal's goading about his wife Melissa had made him lose his temper and his life. As Methos read the footnote the Watcher had made on the bottom of the page, a name leapt out and it raced through his memory.

"Messalina" Methos whispered as his head dropped back against the backrest of the chair.

Rome 30BC

The wooden hatch was pulled back and Methos shielded his eyes from the light. Then a shape silhouetted against the light appeared and started shouting; Methos then felt the tug of the chains that were around his ankles as the others started to climb up the ladder into the light. As Methos stepped onto the deck he felt the sweet air fill his lungs, he hadn't realised just how bad and stale the air had become in the hold. Well when there is 30 men and women crammed in a small space with no ventilation or sanitary facilities for several days, the air tends to take on an odour of it's own.

As Methos tried to take in where he was he felt his back sting as a whip ripped into his flesh. He glared as another's hand pushed him forward with the others. As he walked down the wooden gangplank he couldn't believe he'd become a slave again.

Alexandria 30BC

He had only intended to pass through Alexandria but he had bumped into an old friend, Genubath. He had invited him to stay in his quarters in the Royal palace; everything had been fine for first few days. There had been good food, wine and the company of beautiful women. He had felt the presence of others of his kind but the palace was large enough to avoid contact with them. One day Methos was suddenly awaken when Genubath rushed into the room shouting for him to get up.

"What's wrong?" Methos asked as he sat up sleepily.

"You have to get up, you have to leave now" Genubath said as he picked up Methos's clothes that were scattered around the room.

"Why?" Methos said as he took the clothes from Genubath and started to dress.

"The Emperor has ordered our Queen to Rome" Genubath replied as he kept looking over at the door.

"What's so bad about that?" Methos said as he put on his shoes.

"In chains. They have orders to take her and her household to Rome in chains".

"But I'm not part of her household. I'm only a guest" Methos replied as he picked up his sword.

"I'm afraid they will not listen. Now go" Genubath said as he tried to guide his friend towards the door.

Before Methos could say anything else, ten Roman soldiers entered the room their swords in their hands. Methos pushed Genubath behind him "Now if you don't want to die turn around and forget you ever saw us".

The Roman soldiers all laughed as they looked upon this man before them. From their reaction Methos knew that he would have to fight.

"Stay behind me" Methos said to Genubath as he brought his sword up to challenge the soldiers. He watched as the soldiers looked at each other before the one closest to him lunged forward. It only took Methos a few moves before the first soldier lay dying on the floor, Methos smiled and shrugged at the rest of the soldiers "Now, you could just let us go and save yourselves a lot of pain".

The next soldier attacked as the others cheered him but it wasn't long before he lay on the ground, next to the first soldier, as he tried to hold onto his intestines as they spread over the floor. Methos readied himself for the next one to attack when there was a shout from outside the room, then the remaining soldiers rushed him, he managed to cut down another two before he was overwhelmed. The next thing he knew he awoke in the hold of the ship.

Rome 30BC

The streets were crowded with people from all layers of Roman society from nobles being carried by slaves on litters, merchants selling their wares to slaves and freemen going about their business. Methos was pulled along with the others towards a pair of large wooden gates, which opened as the front of the line reached them. As he walked through the gates he wished that he hadn't taken Genubath up on his offer, for now he wasn't just a slave again and he was without his sword.

One by one the shackles were removed from their ankles before the slaves were forced into a makeshift cage, with wooden bars and a dirt floor. Methos sighed as he managed to find a place to sit as he watched some of those closes to the bars pleading for water; he knew that they would only get things when the guards wanted to. Methos settled down to try and rest, he placed his head onto his folded arms that were resting on his knees.

It was just over an hour later when two young boys appeared carrying two buckets of water. They stopped outside the bars and with a ladle started to give those in the cage a drink of water. Methos got to his feet and waited for his turn to come, some tried for more than one ladle but were beaten back by the guards.

After his ladle of water Methos managed to make his way back to the wall and settled back down. He found a little comfort in having his back covered by the wall. He watched as the others slowly gave into their surroundings and also settled down. A little while later a quiet chatter took over from the silence as groups who knew each other started talking about their fate.

As the light started to fade Methos closed his eyes to rest, in the cramped conditions sleep wasn't going to be easy as there was only just enough room to sit and even then your limbs rested up against your neighbour. He wasn't sure how long he had been dozing when those closest to the bars started shouting. Methos slowly opened his eyes just as pieces of bread were thrown into the cage, one piece hitting him on the leg. He moved quickly to grab it and place it behind his back, he then watched as the cage erupted as the others scrabbled for the other pieces.

He watched as those who had just been talking quietly together fought over the tiniest piece of bread. It always amazed him how quickly human beings would turn on each other and the small and weak were always the losers. Methos waited until the melee had died down and most of the others were trying to sleep before he brought out his piece of bread. As he broke off a small piece and popped it into his mouth he heard some muffled sobbing, there was only the light of the torches by the guards to see by and he had to strain his eyes.

In the corner he could just make out the figure of a small boy, as he lifted his face Methos could see that it had dark stains, which he could only think, were either blood or bruising. At first Methos tried to ignore the child but as the sobbing continued he sighed and got to his feet, carefully he made his way over to the corner, taking his bread with him. There was a man sat next to the child and even in the dim light Methos could see blood on his knuckles and just visible in his hand was a piece of bread. Methos nudged the sleeping man with his foot, his eyes shot open, his fists clenching.

"I think you should move over there," Methos said as he gestured towards the spot he had just left.

"And why would I want to do that?" the man replied as he struggled to his feet. Methos said nothing he just stood his ground and stared into the man's eyes. Methos's muscles tensed as he readied himself for a fight but suddenly the man just moved aside. As the man sat down in the space Methos had just left he felt himself shake, he couldn't be sure why but there was something in this man's eyes and it wasn't just the reflection of the fire from torches, it was something dark and soulless.

"Here" Methos said as he held out a piece of bread to the young boy as he sat down, the boy eyed the bread but didn't move. "It's all right. I'm not going to hurt you".

Slowly the boy reached out a shaking hand, his fingers touched the bread he snatched it from Methos's hand. It only took a few moments before the bread disappeared but the boy still eyed Methos with fear. Methos decided to let the boy be the first to talk so he sat watching the others as they tried to sleep. Finally Methos felt a touch on his arm as the child rested his head against it.

He could see the fear in the boy's eyes as he looked down.

"W...W...What is going to happen to us?" the boy stammered. Methos thought for a moment how do you explain to a child all that being a slave means. He couldn't find the words and Methos knew the nightmare would come so enough, so he said what he knew the child wanted to hear to give him peace at least for tonight "Don't worry everything will be fine".

Just hearing the words seemed to give the child some peace and he settled down to sleep his arm wrapped around Methos's.

Methos managed to doze for a couple of hours but found himself watching as the sun rose bathing the cage in a warm orange glow. It must have been nearly two hours later that they were given more water but this time no bread, the child stayed at Methos's side even when they went for their share of water.

With his head resting against the wall Methos listened as the street outside came to life, he knew that it wouldn't be much longer before all their fates were known.