Chapter VII
Plan for Vengeance
No POV:
It was the day after the death of Titus and Melitta, and the funerals for both had just ended, as Quintus Batiatus was standing in the study of the villa while Gannicus stood on the other side of the table. The dominus pushed his hand down on on the large stack of parchment on the table as he looked up at Gannicus.
"This is all that remains. When the smoke clears and the embers die, the sum total of a man's life." The dominus stated as he took one piece of parchment in his hand. "This was my father's last act before his death. A bill of sale, transferring your ownership. The cause that moved you to seek audience on the day I watched my father burn?"
"Apologies, dominus. I could wait no longer." Gannicus shook his head as he looked at the dominus.
"We again find ourselves in unpleasant position." Batiatus grunted. "To honor my father's wishes sees you fall to control of a man most hated. To defy them sees this house forever excluded from the new arena. A cock in the ass from either direction." Batiatus saw Gannicus stay silent in front of him. "Speak, and give reason to see this join my father's ashes."
"I have no words towards such end." Gannicus explained. "I come to see agreement honored."
The dominus looked at Gannicus in confusion and disappointment. "You wish to leave this house?"
"I wish to see blood!" Gannicus demanded angrily. "See me delivered to Tullius' care, and I will see his life for your father's!"
"A noble offer." Batiatus stated. "Yet I fear your life would be forfeit in such attempt."
"A small price to pay." Gannicus muttered.
"My father never aimed a favored word towards you, yet you entreat to be the instrument of his vengeance." Batiatus wondered until a knowing look appeared in his eyes. "Or is it another you seek it for?" Gannicus only glanced down before looking back up at Batiatus in silence. "You would sacrifice your life in the memory of hers?"
"I would sacrifice a thousand if I but had them." Gannicus replied. "But it is not Melitta herself I thirst vengeance for. It's Cassandra."
"Cassandra?" The dominus inquired curiously.
"She was devastated when she saw her closest friend dead, and she has barely spoken a word since." Gannicus confessed. "I would see her spirits lifted with vengeance."
"If you had such love for Cassandra," Batiatus asked as he walked around the table to stand next to the gladiator. "Why did you not fight harder in the contest before my father? You could have taken Crixus, and remained here, close to your heart's desires."
"I had heard from Cassandra how her brother has wished to become a champion since she could remember." Gannicus explained. "I wanted Crixus to accomplish that goal."
"So you gave him victory, knowing you losing meant that you would have to give up Cassandra? Batiatus inquired.
"I would do anything for her. And now I ask you to give me chance to get vengeance for the one responsible for her pain." Gannicus spoke as he looked Batiatus in the eyes.
"You would only lose your life. Tullius is forever surrounded not only by his own men, but by good citizens who would quickly come to the aid of such a noble roman." Batiatus explained.
"Then they too shall fall!" Gannicus insisted.
"You do not fucking think!" Batiatus grunted as he grabbed the bill of sale from the table. "This grants ownership to Tullius' lapdog Vettius. You would be sent to the boy's ludus in fucking Nola. A year could pass before you find yourself close enough to Tullius."
"I would suffer a lifetime but to have the chance to strike."
"This house would be the one that suffers! A year of the greatest gladiator in the Republic fighting for those shits! A year of you needing to win each fight against my fucking men in the hopes of gaining an audience with Tullius." Batiatus explained.
"Will he not wish to see the man he has fought so hard to gain, when so delivered?" Gannicus asked.
"In chains, absent weapons." Batiatus stated, but was interrupted by Gannicus who looked at him with an angry look on his face.
"Then I will use my hands!" The gladiator demanded, and Batiatus gave him a long look until he nodded.
"Your desires are well noted." The dominus spoke as he walked to the other side of the table. "I will weigh argument, and come to an answer in the balance." He continued before he ordered the guards to walk forward.
"Dominus." Gannicus spoke before he turned around and was led away by the guards.
Cassandra POV:
Devastation. Emptiness. Heartache. Those were all things I felt at the moment, as I was standing in the main area of the villa, staring into nothing. No doubt my face was striped red from the tears I've cried all day and my face pale from being unable to eat. I was startled when I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I turned to look who it was and the corners of my mouth rose slightly when I saw it was Naevia, who was looking at me with worry.
"I worry for you, Cassandra. You have not eaten at all today." She spoke, worrying.
"I am not hungry." I replied without turning towards Naevia. "You must. I do not wish to see you suffer." She insisted and then I turned to look at her.
"Suffer?" I scoffed. "That is all anyone can do in this cursed house."
"You mustn't speak that way, Cassandra." Naevia whispered. "There are some good things in your life because of this place. At least one."
"You're right." I acknowledged causing a smile to grow on Naevia's face. "I made close friends here, my brother has finally become a gladiator, and I fell in love. Now, my closest friend is dead and the man I love is to be sold to a coward. How long will it be until I lose my brother as well?"
The smile on Naevia's face fell as I spoke those words. "Life in this world is extremely hard at times, but I feel that when you have hope, you can get through anything."
"The only way to get through this is with vengeance for the one responsible for Melitta's death." I demanded as I shoved Naevia's hand off my shoulder and walked back inside the villa, not seeing Crixus who was watching me from below.
Some time later, I was walking through the main room of the villa when the domina walked toward me.
"Cassandra. I would have words." She spoke as she smiled. I quickly walked to her. "Yes, domina?" I asked her, causing her to give a small smile.
"Naevia told me you have not been yourself." Lucretia spoke and I immediately lowered my gaze on the floor. "You grieve for Melitta. I understand how you feel, I feel much the same. She was my bodyslave for a long time, and I've seen how close you two became during the short time you knew each other."
"She was like a sister to me." I whimpered, barely able to hold tears from falling.
"As Gaia was to me." Lucretia admitted. "They were both taken from us too soon. Tullius shall pay for what he did. In fact, my husband plans to do so."
"He does?" I enquired.
"Yes." the domina explained. "Apparently a certain celt insisted to be sold to Tullius. He wishes to be the one who takes Tullius' life."
"Gannicus?" I frowned. "Why would he do such a thing?"
"It seems he loves you more than you believe. Quintus said that he does not wish to see you suffer."
I looked at the domina for a moment until I quietly spoke. "May I go talk with Gannicus?"
"Of course. If you can, please try to talk to the man." The domina nodded and I rushed towards the ludus.
Later, I was standing in front of the gate to the ludus, hoping to see Gannicus walk by. A moment later the man turned the corner. When he saw me, he walked to the gate.
"Cassandra...-" He started to speak, but I interrupted him with an angry voice.
"Why would you offer to be the one who kills Tullius?" I insisted and the gladiator looked me in the eye as he put his rough on hand on top of mine that weas holding onto the gate. "He is the reason why you suffer so. I only wish to end your suffering."
"You want the dominus to sell you to him, but it could take months for you to have the chance to get close to the man!" I exclaimed in anger. "And even if you could take the coward's life, you would surely die after." I whispered as I took a step closer to the gate."I wouldn't be able to go on if I lost you in such a way."
A small smile appeared on Gannicus' face as he leaned his head on the gate while I did the same. He slowly lifted his arm and smoothed his fingers on my smooth cheek.
"I'm sorry." He spoke while smoothing down the dark waves coming down next to my face. "I did not mean to make you angry."
"I know." I sighed.
"I do not like seeing you suffer so." Gannicus assured. "I only wish to punish the one who caused such."
"And there must be a better way to do so than agreeing to be sold to the man." I insisted. "Surely the dominus is planning something."
"He told me he would think of it and come to me with an answer later."Gannicus stated with a determined look on his face. I leaned closer to him so there were only inches between us and put my hands on his cheeks as I looked him in the eye.
"When he gives you an answer..." I spoke as I held his gaze. "Promise me that you'll make sure that despicable coward dies."
"I will." The gladiator promised while leaning closer to me. Just when our lips were going to meet, I heard steps coming toward us. We both pulled away and turned to look beside Gannicus. Crixus was walking toward us and stopped when he was a few feet away from Gannicus. The two men looked at each other and I was worried they might attack each other again until Crixus spoke.
"Can I have a moment with my sister?" He asked calmly, but I could see from his clenched fists that was barely able to keep so calm. Gannicus gave a small nod and slowly pulled his hand away from my face. After giving a small smile to me, he walked away, leaving me with my brother who was glaring at the retreating gladiator.
"Stop it." I demanded and Crixus immediately turned to look at me.
"I don't understand what you see in him." He grunted. "You're far too good for him."
"I know him far better than you do." I insisted. "He's a much better man than you think."
"If he was a good man, he would have told me about screwing my little sister." Crixus growled as he looked me in the eye. "And she should have told me as well."
"I didn't tell you about it because I knew how you would react!" I barked at him. "You have always been more protective of me than you have had to be."
"You're my little sister." He replied. "I promised mother and father that I would take care of you."
"I'm not a little girl anymore, Crixus!" I insisted. "I can take care of myself!"
Crixus stepped closer to me as he sighed. "I know you can. But you are still my sister. And even though Gannicus is a brother to me like all the other gladiators, I do not trust him with you."
"Then trust me!" I begged as I took hold of Crixus' hand through the gate. "I trust him. And you know me, Crixus. You know I would never trust a person who wasn't truly trustworthy."
"I know." He muttered as he started to calm down.
"I promise you, Crixus. Gannicus would never hurt me. And even if he did, I would hurt him back." I smiled, hoping to assure Crixus. It obviously worked, judging from the small smile that appeared on his face.
"I know you will." He smiled. "You're just as fierce as our mother was."
"And you're just as stubborn and easy to anger as our father." I joked back, causing the smile on Crixus' face to grow as did mine. "If only they were still with us. They would be so proud of you."
Crixus gave a sad smile as he stepped closer. He put his arms throught the holes in the gate and hugged me as best as he could with the barrier between us.
"And we shall continue to make them proud." Crixus swore as I held my head against his warm chest.
Some time later, I walked to Lucretia in the main area of the villa. When she saw me walking to her, she spoke.
"Did you talk to Gannicus?" She inquired. I nodded. "I did, domina."
"And?" She asked.
"I convinced him not to do anything reckless." I replied. "But I also told him that if he has a chance to get to Tullius, that he would make sure that the man dies." I continued with determination evident in my voice.
"It seems that you are quite like me." Lucretia smiled. "You love the people closest to you and you want vengeance for the things that have been done to them."
"I do, domina. Crixus taught me that." I smiled, remembering every little thing I had learned from my brother during the years.
"What else did he teach you?" The domina inquired, clearly curious.
"He taught me to only trust people who were truly trustworthy."
"He seems like a smart man." Lucretia smiled and I smiled back. "He is, domina."
As we stood there, we soon saw the dominus walking to us.
"Bring oil and a sharpened blade." He commanded the slave following him. "I would be rid of this fucking beard."
The domina and I followed the dominus as he walked away from us.
"Solonius?" The domina asked.
"His courage hardened, and hands set to task." Batiatus answered.
"Then you have come to decision." Lucretia assumed as the dominus turned to look at her.
"One that not even good Tullius will see coming." Batiatus smirked as he looked at me and the other slaves beside me. "Gather my father's ashes, and tell Oenomaus to prepare Gannicus to leave these walls."
I turned towards the other slaves and walked away, but not before I shared a look with Lucretia.
Later, I was standing at the balcony of the villa with Lucretia and Naevia as we looked at Batiatus, Gannicus, Oenomaus, Barca and a few other men who were standing in the training grounds, preparing to leave the ludus. After sharing quick words with the gladiators, Batiatus walked through the gate with the other men following him. Before he walked after them, Gannicus looked up at the balcony and met my eyes. When he gave a small nod, I nodded back with a small smile. As he followed the others, I stayed on the balcony, praying that he would not hurt himself.
It was the middle of the night as I walked back and forth in front of the gate to the ludus as I was impatiently waiting for the dominus to come back. I was scratching my neck when I heard the familiar clink of metal from outside. I quickly turned around and looked at the gate to the villa grounds. A wide smile appeared on my face when I saw most of the men who had left returning, Gannicus, Oenomaus and of course the dominus among them. After sharing a quick word with Gannicus and Oenomaus, the dominus walked to the gate where I was waiting. I quickly opened the gate for him and then politely stood by the side while I looked at the dominus who was also looking at me.
"Why are you here and not with Lucretia?" The dominus inquired and I looked down on the floor.
"I apologize. The domina asked me to wait for you here to make sure all of you returned unharmed."
"Most of us did, Barca was hurt but he has already gone to see the medicus." Batiatus spoke as I glanced to the training grounds and saw Gannicus still standing there, looking at us.
"And Gannicus?" I asked quietly. I could not see any wounds on the man, but I still wanted to be sure.
"He was unharmed." Batiatus assured, causing a relieved smile to grow on my face.
"Could it be possible for me to talk with him? Only for a moment." I asked, and the Batiatus waved with his hand and nodded. "Go. I will tell Lucretia that you are busy for the night."
"Thank you, dominus." I nodded with a wide smile as I quickly dashed through the gate towards the gladiator. When I was close enough, I jumped towards him, throwing my arms around his neck while I felt him put his strong arms around my waist.