Chapter VI
The Loss of A Sister
It was the morning after the party, and I walked inside Gaia's chamber with Melitta and Naevia. When I woke, I was told that Gaia had fallen off the balcony to her death after drinking too much. As we walked to the chamber, I saw the domina sitting on the bed, wearing a dark green dress. When I walked around the bed to her, I could see the dried up tears on her cheeks. After a moment, I had the courage to speak.
"I know how close you held her." I spoke gently and the domina looked up at me. "It was an unfortunate accident."
"She was taken from us too soon." Lucretia spoke quietly.
"Yet blessed to count you as friend, while she was among us." I spoke as I stepped closer to her.
"She was more than friend. " Lucretia explained as she looked at me. "She was family. Titus has ordered Gaia's slave removed. And commanded that salt and spelt be scattered. Decision and ritual, to cleanse all trace of Gaia from beneath his roof." She continued as she leaned closer to me. "I asked Quintus to speak to his father, to not let Gaia be swept so easily from memory. But a wife's desired do not always mirror those of her husband."
"Then she must keep them hidden." I whispered to her as I leaned slightly closer. "We will tell them ritual was performed even in absence of the deed. Melitta, Naevia and Diona to attest, if questioned."
"Gratitude." Lucretia whispered as she took hold of my hand and smiled. "You truly are a great help in this house, Cassandra."
I nodded and smiled at her before returning to my duties.
Later, I was walking through the corridors inside the ludus, when I heard the gladiators fighting outside. I slowly walked to the side gate, which had a clear sight of the training area. As I watched through it, I saw Crixus fighting against another gladiator. The old dominus had ordered contest to be had between the gladiators to see how good they all truly were. And from what I was seeing, my dear brother was doing quite well. As I watched the match, I saw a familiar man with dirty blonde hair standing by the side with his back towards me. I smiled the moment I saw him, and as if he had felt me looking at him, Gannicus turned around and we met eyes. When the familiar grin appeared on his face, I smiled back at him until he turned back around to watch the fight.
As I turned around to go back to the villa, I was startled by the man standing few feet in front of me. The man saw me jump.
"Apologies,"The man spoke. "I did not mean to startle you."
"It is alright." I insisted, although my heart was still beating quite fast from the surprise. "May I ask your name?"
"Ashur." The odd man spoke. "And you may be?"
"Cassandra." I simply answered, causing a small smile to appear on Ashur's face.
"Ah, you are Cassandra. I've heard many things of you." He smiled. I looked at him in confusion.
"You have?" I asked in suspicion."From who?"
"Crixus, of course." Ashur told me. "We were recruits during the same time and I like to think of us as almost friends."
I smiled when I heard the man speak of my brother. "I am glad he has someone like that. I had feared that he's all alone."
"No," The man assured. "And since his growing skills, the other gladiators have begun to respect him also."
"I am glad." I smiled as I walked past Ashur.
"Though I believe his bond with one of the gladiators will be broken when he hears of what the man is doing with his dear sister."
I immediately turned around and looked at Ashur, hoping I had heard wrong. "I do not know what you speak of."
"Oh," Ashur smirked as he walked closer to me. "I believe you do."
I stood there silently as I stared at the man.
"I wonder what Crixus would say if he discovered that Gannicus, one of his brothers in arms... Was fucking his sister?" He once again smirked.
"How do you...-"
"Know about it?" Ashur interrupted me. "I saw you and Gannicus last night as you were wrapped in each others' arms."
As Ashur smiled at me, I stood there, frozen with fear of what he could do.
"It was wonderful meeting you, Cassandra." He grinned as he took a step back. "I hope I shall see you again."
As the man turned around and walked out of the gate to the training ground, I finally released the deep breath I was holding in and quickly ran back inside the villa.
I walked quickly on a corridor inside the villa, trying to find Melitta, when I saw her walking towards me.
"Melitta!" I called as I ran to her. "We have a serious problem."
"You have heard already?" She asked and I looked at her in confusion. "Heard what?"
"The dominus plans to sell Gannicus to Tullius."
The moment she said those words, I froze, trying to understand what she was saying.
"What?" I asked quietly.
"Gannicus is to fight Crixus today. If he loses, he will be sold to Tullius in exchange for the Primus." Melitta calmly explained.
"But... He can't." I insisted, refusing to believe that I would lose the person I loved perhaps even more than my brother.
"It is truth. He just told my husband of it." Melitta spoke as she looked at me with sadness. "I am sorry, Cassandra."
"But he's the champion of this house." I once again insisted.
"The dominus does not think so." Melitta said as she put her hand on my shoulder. "Perhaps you should speak with Gannicus about it."
"I do not have time." I exclaimed. "There is a bigger problem in my hands."
"What problem?" Melitta inquired in confusion.
"One of the gladiators, Ashur," I began. "He knows about me and Gannicus. And he threatened to tell Crixus."
Melitta looked at me with shock. "How can he know?" She asked, causing me to blush.
"He... He saw me and Gannicus kissing outside the ludus last night." I explained quietly. Melitta looked at me in disbelief.
"If you wished to keep it secret, why did you kiss him outside, where anyone could see you?" She asked with a frown on her face.
"We were both caught up in the moment. He was hurt from his fight with Tullius and I was angry and it just... Happened." I spoke.
"Well, if Ashur decides to tell Crixus, there is nothing you can do." Melitta sighed. "Perhaps this is the way he is supposed to know."
"But Gannicus said he would tell Crixus tomorrow," I ranted. "I do not wish someone like Ashur to rob him of that."
"I know. But all we can do now is wait." Melitta acknowledged. I took a deep breath and released it.
"I do not know if I can just wait." I sighed and Melitta gave me a comforting smile.
"But you must. Now come. You should keep your mind on other things as we wait." Melitta said as she took my arm and led me further into the villa.
The next morning, I was nervously standing on the balcony next to Melitta while the old dominus stood by the railing, watching the gladiators training below. I saw Gannicus talking with Oenomaus next to the palus. Judging from the annoyed and confused look on Gannicus' face, he had obviously just heard the news of his impending sale.
"Doctore." The dominus spoke and I turned my eyes on him. "Let us begin. And known who turly stands champion of this house."
"Crixus! Gannicus! Take position!" Oenomaus commanded with the sound of his whip.
As Gannicus walked to the center of the training ground, I saw him look up at me. I looked at him with sadness and worry, but eventually managed to show him a small smile. After a moment, he looked away, taking his position, while I looked at Crixus, who was still in the sidelines. When I saw who was standing next to him, I froze. Ashur.
No POV:
As Crixus took hold of his shield and wooden sword, he saw Ashur standing beside him, smirking.
"I hope you achieve victory, my friend." Ashur spoke and Crixus gave him a slight nod.
"I prayed the gods for another chance to prove myself against Gannicus. It seems they have heard me." Crixus spoke with his gruff voice, causing Ashur's smirk to widen. "So they have. They've given you a chance for vengeance."
Crixus looked at Ashur in confusion. "Vengeance? Why would I want vengeance?"
"You do not know?" Ashur inquired with a pretend look of shock on his face.
"Know what?" Crixus asked as he stepped closer to Ashur. The smaller man looked at the gaul.
"That Gannicus has been fucking your sister." Ashur spoke. Crixus looked at him in confusion, but quickly that confusion turned to anger. "Apparently he's been doing so for weeks."
Crixus quickly turned to glare at Gannicus who was already standing in position.
"I do hope you give him what he deserves." Ashur smirked as he walked away.
Cassandra POV:
As I watched Ashur walk away from Crixus, he looked up at me and smirked. Immediately after seeing his smirk, I looked back at Crixus. The moment I saw the enraged look in his eyes, I knew what had happened. He knew. The moment I saw Batiatus and Lucretia walk to the balcony, I stepped closer to Lucretia.
"Domina." I quickly spoke and the woman turned to look at me.
"What is it, Cassandra?"
"We must prevent the match from happening." I pleaded, causing the two men to look at me.
"What for?" The old dominus inquired in confusion. I glanced at him ,but then looked back at Lucretia.
"Crixus knows." I spoke, but when Lucretia looked at me with the same confusion as the dominus, I explained myself, "He knows of Gannicus."
Immediately after I spoke the gladiator's name, Lucretia quickly turned to look at Batiatus and his father. "You must stop that fight before it begins."
"Why?" Batiatus asked his wife and she stared him in the eye.
"Crixus knows of the night with Varis." She explained, but when she was going to speak more, she was interrupted.
"There is no good reason to prevent this. Now, let us continue so we will see who the true champion of this house is." Before anyone could speak, the dominus looked down at Oenomaus. "Doctore! Begin the match!"
I immediately stepped closer to the balcony railing as I watched Oenomaus step forward with his whip. "Begin!"
Not even a second later, Crixus furiously attacked Gannicus, barely giving the former champion time to dodge the attack. He managed to dodge and block the attacks, but suddenly Crixus thrusts his sword forward and managed to hit Gannicus's hairline, causing blood to pour out. Gannicus was shaken for a moment, but then he tried to attack Crixus, only in vain for Crixus managed to block his attacks. Eventually Gannicus managed to throw Crixus onto his back. While Crixus was trying to get up, Gannicus looked up at me and I looked at him with fear and anxiety as I tried to nod towards Crixus. After a moment of confusion in his eyes, Gannicus' brow furrowed and glanced down at Crixus, then looking back at me with a nervous look in his eyes, letting me know that he understood what I was trying to tell him.
The moment he looked back down, Crixus was already attacking him again, but Gannicus managed to roll out of the way. However, the next time Crixus went to charge at Gannicus, the bleeding man looked up at me. As he kept staring at me, I became confused. Why would he distract himself while my brother was trying to pummel him, or worse, kill him?
When I saw Gannicus slowly lower his arm and open his defenses, I knew what he was planning. But before I could do anything, Crixus smashed him on the chin with his shield, violently throwing Gannicus back until he fell on the ground. The moment he did, Crixus threw away his sword and shield, kneeled closer to Gannicus and started to punch him in the face, numerous times. As the gladiators cheered, I looked at the dominus in desperation.
"Dominus, please!" I pleaded with tears in my eyes. The old dominus immediately turned to look at Oenomaus.
"Doctore! Pull those men off each other!" He ordered with his loud but gruff voice, and as the tears in my eyes flowed, I watched as the other gladiators pulled Crixus off Gannicus and others helped Gannicus back up. The dominus angrily looked at Oenomaus.
"Bring those two inside the villa! Now!" He ordered as he turned around and walked inside the villa, with Batiatus and Lucretia following him. After a glance at the bleeding Gannicus and the furious Crixus, I followed the dominus.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The dominus roared as he looked at Gannicus and Crixus who were now standing in the main room beside each other, but two guard behind them, making sure they wouldn't attack each other again. Both of the men were bruised and Gannicus still had dried blood on his forehead and cheek. Melitta and I stood next to Lucretia as she, Batiatus and the dominus looked at the two gladiators in front of us.
"Two gladiators, one trying to kill the other, when that was not the purpose of that fight!" The dominus roared again. "Explain yourselves! Crixus!"
As I watched Crixus with my moist, red eyes, I saw him stay silent.
"One of you! Explain what happened at this moment!" the dominus roared at the two men, and when I couldn't hear it anymore, I stepped forward.
"Dominus." I spoke, causing every person in the room to turn towards me. "I know the reason why my brother acted as he did."
"Then speak, slave." The dominus ordered. "So I could make some sense of this."
I looked at both Crixus and Gannicus before I turned to look back at the dominus.
"Crixus attacked Gannicus in such rage because... He found out about the relationship I've been having with him." I explained, causing all three romans to look at me in shock.
"Relationship?" Lucretia inquired.
"Yes." I said quietly as I looked down at my feet. "My brother only wished to defend my honor." I spoke as I looked up at Crixus. "Though he did not need to, for I was not forced."
"You have been keeping this secret for how long?" Lucretia asked as I looked at her.
"Since the night Varis was here." I explained to her as she looked at me with sympathy.
"Then this is only a quarrel between a man and his sister's lover. Why is it that you could not settle it like men? Instead you charged at him like a crazed bull!" The dominus demanded Crixus.
"It is my fault." Gannicus spoke up. "I had planned to tell Crixus about us today, but it appears someone told him before I could."
"It was Ashur." I explained everyone as I looked at Gannicus.
"Ashur?" Batiatus wondered. "The other syrian?"
"He saw me and Gannicus last night outside the ludus." I explained with a sigh.
"Then we should also bring him here to...-" The dominus spoke, but suddenly he began to cough violently. His bodyslave quickly went to him and so did Batiatus.
"Father?" Batiatus asked, worrying as his father kneeled on the ground from the coughing. "Fetch the medicus!" Batiatus told Melitta, who was standing next to me. Melitta quickly walked away as Batiatus looked at the guards behind the two gladiators. "Take Gannicus and Crixus back to the ludus, and make sure to keep them separate."
The guards quickly did as Batiatus asked, and as they led the two men away, I locked eyes with Gannicus for a moment until I quickly followed Lucretia and Batiatus as they went after the dominus.
Later, I was standing behind Lucretia with Melitta as Lucretia tried to make the bedridden dominus drink.
"Drink." She insisted, but the old man pushed the cup away.
"Move Tullius' wine from sight." He gruffly commanded and Lucretia did as he asked, lowering the cup on the small table beside the bed. As she stood up, I looked at her.
"Apologies, domina." I inquired as she turned to look at me. "I would have permission to see Gannicus."
"You ask this now?" Lucretia asked in disbelief.
"I only wish to make sure that his wounds are not too grievous." I pleaded with a frown onm my face. "And I know he will be sold tomorrow. I... Wish to say proper goodbye."
Lucretia looked at me with kindness. "You love him, do you not?" She asked, surprising me.
"I do, domina." I confidently told her as I smiled.
"Then go." She smiled back. " And stay as long as you wish."
A large grin appeared on my face as I nodded. "Thank you, domina." I thanked and then walked away as quickly as I could.
As I walked to the door to Gannicus' room, the guard in front of it slowly opened the door. When I stepped inside, I saw Gannicus sitting on the floor with his back against the wall. I sighed from relief when I saw that his wounds had been tended to and that only quickly forming bruises were present on his cheeks. When the guard closed the door behind me, Gannicus looked up at me. I smiled at him as I walked to him, sitting down on the floor in front of him.
"I'm glad your wounds are not as bad as I feared."I spoke with a small smile on my face as i put my hand on Gannicus' arm that he was resting on top of his knee.
"What are you doing here?" He asked as he looked me in the eye. I was immediately confused.
"Why do you ask?" I inquired.
"I thought you would be with Crixus, attempting to calm him down." He spoke. I scooted closer to him so our faces were only inches apart.
"He is my brother. Despite my words, he will always be my brother and he will eventually calm down. But you... I do not wish to lose you by choosing sides." I spoke as a frown appeared on my face. "Though I will lose you either way... You are to be sold to Tullius."
"How did you know?" The surprised man asked.
"Melitta told me." I told him. "And I saw Oenomaus talking to you before the fight. Did he tell you of your fate?"
"He did." Gannicus muttered as he looked me in the eye. "Should I fall to Crixus."
"You would let Crixus win when you knew you would have to leave?" I asked in disbelief. "Why?"
"Because I knew how much your brother desired to be champion."
His answer surprised me. "You would give him victory..." I whimpered. "Knowing that you would lose me..?"
As Gannicus saw the tears flowing down my face, he slowly lifted his hands to my cheeks, wiping away the tears.
"Nothing could ever tear me away from you, Cassandra." He spoke, and when I wished to speak up, he smoothed his thumbs over my wet lips. "And I do not intend to leave this house while you are still in it. Despite what the dominus commands."
Gannicus slowly began to lean closer to me, and when our lips almost touched, the door was opened by the guard. We both looked at the door, and saw Naevia standing there with tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Cassandra..." She whimpered, greatly worrying me as she looked both of us. "It's Melitta..."
The moment both Gannicus and I heard the name, we quickly followed Naevia into the villa.
The moment Gannicus and I followed Naevia to the main room of the villa, we saw Oenomaus kneeling by Melitta, who was lying motionless on the floor, dried blood covering her chin and neck. Without one thought, I ran to the woman and kneeled by her as I put my hands on her cheeks.
"Melitta..." I whimpered as I moved her head side to side, trying to wake her up. "Melitta!" I shouted in despair.
"Cassandra..."
I looked at Oenomaus who spoke next to me, and the moment I saw the broken, devastated look in his eyes, tears poured from my eyes. Before I knew it, I screamed as loud as I could from the immense pain I felt. As I screamed, I was soon enveloped in familiar arms as Gannicus kneeled next to me and wrapped his warm arms around me, pulling me into his arms. Though his comfort ended the scream, it did not stop me from crying out for the friend I had just lost.
A/N (PLEASE READ!)
And there's another chapter for you guys! This chapter took pretty long to write because I wanted to do two things properly. One, I wanted Crixus to find out about Cassandra and Gannicus from the schemer we all hate. And two, I wanted to show the anguish and devastation Cassandra feels when Melitta dies. I think I managed to write both pretty well, but I would still like to know how all of you think about the chapter and the whole story so be sure to leave a review! :D
PS: Oh, and the next chapter which is probably also the last one, will probably take a while to write since I have to rethink the end some because if you've read the old story that takes place during Vengeance, you know about what happens before Blood and Sand. But if you haven't read the old story, PLEASE DON'T! I want you to be surprised! ;)