"About time you made it," Vulpes snarks.
Agnes smiles as she saunters into his tent. She was a day overdue, offering no explanation of her late arrival.
...
Bowing before Caesar, the neck of her blouse opens, exposing her neck. Something catches Vulpes' eye, something peeking from under her collar.
Caesar is pleased with the report of the destruction of the Brotherhood. His proud smile makes Agnes's heart sink as she thinks of plumes of thick smoke against a clear blue sky. Caesar congratulates Vulpes on a job well done. Suddenly, his face contorts in pain as he grips his forehead.
"Out," he bellows. "Everyone get the fuck out!"
Agnes was no where to be seen but Vulpes knew where to find her.
...
He walks to the slave tents and enters the one that bears the red stripes of a soldier. The placement was odd but Caesar refuses to have her camp with the men.
Vulpes enters quietly and finds Agnes sitting in a high backed tub, her back to the entrance. A young slave girl sits behind her, brushing her hair. The young girl stops at the intrusion.
"Does Vulpes know your here?," Agnes calls without looking.
Vulpes smirks as he moves further into her tent.
Agnes scowls at the approaching footsteps. Most Legionaries have a healthy fear of the Frumentarii, especially their leader. The mere mention of his name usually drove them away. Silently, Agnes reaches for her dagger.
"Should I be concerned about why you have to mention my name?," he says, stepping into view. Agnes looks relieved to see her mentor.
"Some men just won't accept no for an answer," is all she says.
The slave girl sits quietly behind her, hairbrush in hand.
"Tabby," Agnes calls, "why don't you go wait outside for a moment."
Vulpes takes the moment to see what he came to see.
Love bites cover her upper chest and the base of her neck. He moves her hair to see more blemishes dot the back of her neck. Agnes watches his face as he examines her with a cool gaze.
"Are you upset?," she asks, unable to read his face.
Vulpes quietly regards her as if determining her future, walking behind her. Agnes fights to keep facing forward. This is just one of his techniques, she tells herself. He's just messing with you.
She jumps when he speaks lowly in her ear.
"I'm disappointed," he says from behind her.
"I'm disappointed that you don't know your value. Never forget, Agnes, you are Legion. Those profligates are unworthy of your attention."
Agnes hears what he was saying.
Vulpes is disappointed that she did not view him in the same light. While handsome, it was the gleam in his eye, the menace in his smile, that keeps her away. It was the same with Boone, that just so smile he sported while killing people from a distance, that eventually drove them apart. It was the same smile her Stepfather wore when he beat her Mother.
The smile of a man comfortable with violence.
"And do tell Master Vulpes, who is worthy of my attention?" she says, turning her head ever so slightly in his direction. "You are not my paterfamilias."
"I am the closest thing to a friend you have in this entire camp," he whispers menacingly. "Do not push me away."
This upset Agnes greatly. How dare he? Wasn't it enough that she suffered through his "teachings." Her family is being held as collateral and now her mentor is crying about sex. If nothing else, Vulpes should have remembered her temper. She would not roll over on her back simply because he wished it so.
She turns to face him, dagger in hand, a snarl on her face.
"I don't know what you're looking for but if you are looking for a whore, look else where. You will not find one in this tent!"
Vulpes gives a toothy grin at her display of spirit. Agnes knows that he enjoys these little challenges. How far can he push before she pushes back?
Quick as a Nightstalker, Vulpes has her wrist, twisting it sharply, making her to drop the dagger.
"I'm not afraid of you," Agnes growls as he pulls her closer to him.
Giving a predatory grin, Vulpes stands pulling her from the water. Agnes is outraged as he manhandles her out of the tub. They struggle until he twists her arm painfully behind her back.
"Stop or I'll break it," he warns.
Agnes huffs before standing still. She stands bare before him, unable to cover herself, fuming under his steady gaze.
Vulpes makes an unhappy noise as he views her body.
There are bruises around her hips. Vulpes turns her, placing her back to his chest, placing his hand on the bruises. Feeling his firm grip on her hip makes her painfully aware of her nakedness. From this angle, Vulpes can also see inflamed bite marks that mark the nape of her neck and shoulders.
"Who did this?," Vulpes asks, spinning her to face him again.
Agnes bows her head, hiding her face.
"Agnes," he says sternly, lifting her chin, "Who did this?"
"It's not what you think," she says, meeting his eyes.
"I wanted this, I asked for it."
She looks down.
"I deserve it," she says softly.
Vulpes narrows his eyes at her words.
"Why?" Vulpes asks, irritation in his voice. "You did as you were told and successful completed your mission. Caesar is very pleased."
She shakes her head, looking at Vulpes. "I blew up a bunker full of innocent people. They all died because of me."
Vulpes becomes angry.
"Stop that!," he commands. "Your pathetic tears will not undo anything. The dead are dead, there is nothing you can do about it. I would gladly sacrifice a thousand profligates to win this war."
"I'm numb on the inside," she confesses in a tiny voice. "I just wanted to feel something."
Vulpes' faces contorts in an ugly expression at her words. He seizes her throat, squeezing tightly.
"Can you feel that?," he snarls in her face.
Agnes makes no motion to stop him. She can barely breath as Vulpes tightens his grip, his breathe hot on her face.
"I've given you so much attention, most would feel honored. But all you give me are tears and sniffling."
He releases his grip on her throat, looking disgusted.
Agnes collapses to the floor, breathing harshly.
Vulpes kneels, grabbing a hand full of her dark hair, forcing her to look at him.
"Like it or not, you have been chosen to serve. For all intensive purposes, I AM your paterfamilias. You will do as I say! You will not disgrace me with your lack of control and discipline any further."
Agnes works to breath calmly, to show no fear. This is simply another challenge, she thinks.
It was his ego that had been hurt. While very capable, Vulpes has an ego the size of Fortification Hill. To see another man mark his "lamb" must be maddening, to know she sought out another, infuriating. She knew he couldn't seriously injure her here at the Fort due to the close proximity of Caesar; however, out in the Mojave was a different story altogether.
Vulpes gives a feral smile as if reading her mind. Her stomach drops, her true punishment would wait till they were away. Vulpes bore grudges and was infinitely patient, he would strike when she least expected it.
Her mind races and a memory from long ago plays. A lesson taught by the Priestess of Mars in the old school gymnasium. How she scoffed at the old birds at the time.
"Women were created to be ruled by Men. The ultimate show of respect was to kneel before those that held the power. Give them your control," the old woman instructed.
Agnes hopes to placate Vulpes as she assumes the posture from that horrible lesson. The last thing she wanted was to watch him out of the corner of her eye during their future endeavors. Stupid men and their stupid inflated egos, she thinks as she arranges her legs under her. Folding her arms behind her, Agnes bares her neck to him as she was shown long ago. Never in a million years did she think she would kneel in this fashion.
Agnes dies a million deaths.
The effect is immediate. A gleam of delight shines on his face as he admires her kneeling form, his anger soothed.
"I appreciate the gesture." Vulpes coos, trailing a finger down her neck and in between her breasts. He smiles as goosebumps break out on her arms and her nipples harden.
"This is a good look for you, submitting like a proper Legion woman should."
Agnes suppresses a snort, looking forward.
He leans into her and whispers tenderly in her ear while his other hand caresses her bare back.
"How I would love to take you here as you kneel so prettily. I think you would enjoy it immensely. I know I would," he says with a leering smile.
Agnes narrows her eyes at him and begins to curl her lip. Vulpes gives her a light tap on the cheek as a warning. She works to settle her face into a smooth mask.
"Good girl," he says, giving her a light caress on the same cheek.
Vulpes rises, standing before her. He looks down at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers.
"I have been where you are now, in the darkness. It does get better, it will get easier," he says gently, cupping her cheek.
"Whatever the cost will be far outweighed by the reward. We are building a future, Agnes. Have pride in your role. It will all be worthwhile in the end."
Vulpes strides out of her tent, leaving her confused and wondering what just happened.
...
Agnes is called forth for another task. She stands before Lucius, her collar pulled high to hide the marks.
Caesar is not well and requires surgery but none are qualified. The Auto Doc in his bed chambers can be upgraded to perform the surgery; however, the required module is burnt. Agnes and Vulpes are tasked with finding the much needed replacement module.
They meet with Dale Barton, the camp trader, who shows her the part needed and how to remove it from the donor Auto Doc. Vulpes hovers over her shoulder like a dark cloud, watching intently.
They leave the Fort before sunrise. Their goal is to return within four days.