Chapter II

The next morning, Agron and the group were on the move once more. Nasir yawned, after having a wondrous night sleep in Agron's arms. He simply could not wait to start a life with him. Other times he would feel guilty. Her would think of Navia and Crixus; what their children would have looked like. How Sybil and Gannicus would be together in their new life. Yet, here he was alive, and Gannicus, Crixus, and Navia were dead. He sighed, kicking stones beneath his heal. Amongst Spartacus and the others, he didn't feel like he belonged at first. True, he was a slave like them, but he never lived with them in the House of Batiatus. He wondered what it had been like to be a Gladiator in a ludus. Was it a true nightmare as the others said? Was it not also glorious? What was Agron like before he had met him? All these questions roamed through his mind as they walked.

"Your mind appears to be elsewhere." Agron commented, nudging Nasir with his shoulder.

"Oh, nothing but wandering thoughts to pass time." Nasir replied, kicking more stones.

"Well put thoughts to tongue." Agron said once more, raising an eyebrow of curiosity. Nasir laughed slightly under his breath, looking up at the sky.

"I was just curious to know who you were as a Gladiator. The life of one seems glorious, despite chains upon wrists." Nasir finally replied after a long pause.

"Ha-Ha. Yes, one might say it so." Agron replied, chuckling slightly. "I still would have rather been free than to be someone else's beast to entertain." Agron went on. "In the end, because of the Romans, I lost my dear younger brother." He finished, thinking back to fighting on the sands of the Arena alongside Duro.

"Yes, it just came to thought as all." Nasir agreed.

"I would be surprised if it did not." Agron also agreed. He reached for his hand, and Nasir grasped it. The two smiled and held hands as they walked. No words were spoken. Simple lovingly stares would be given. Nightfall came, and the group found themselves upon a small village. The group checked into an Inn and stayed the night. Agron sighed of relief as he plopped on to the bed. It was not luxurious as some of the beds in the Vila's they and Spartacus raided, but it was damn better than sleeping on the ground.

"One day I hope to have my own home, with you at my side of course." Agron said softly, stretching out his tired body on the bed. Nasir smirked and lay beside him, resting his chin on Agron's stomach.

"And it would be truly ours, rather it be a Vila or a small house of brick and stone. As long as I can share bed with you." Nasir replied softly. Agron smirked back, rolling his way on top. He kissed the back of Nasir's neck.

"Yes, where we would make love all day long." Agron replied lustfully.

Nasir groaned in response, while Agron slowly grind his lower body into Nasir's. So close to getting it on, they heard screams outside the village. Both Nasir and Agron ran outside to the scene. A young woman was crying, pointing to the forest ahead.

"T-They took her!" The woman wailed.

"Who?" Agron asked, anger boiling. It didn't take much to make Agron angry. Especially if someone was being harmed, someone who was innocent.

"Men in hoods of black, they took my daughter!" The woman replied. Nasir grabbed his spear and took off into the forest. Agron, who by instinct of not wanting to be parted from his lover, ran after him. They ran and ran, until it became so dark their sight was no use to them. It was pitch black. All they could hear were the sounds of the forest.

"Agron! You cannot stay, your hands are not fully healed! You cannot fight!" Nasir whispered loudly. Agron put up his fists.

"If I cannot grasp sword, I will for certain hold up fists!" Agron replied back. Nasir rolled his eyes, circling the area around them.

"Your bravery is sometimes maddening." Nasir replied back in an annoyed tone.

Both remained in the darkness, with their guard up. All seemed quiet. Until, a large swooping sound passed by. It was fast. So fast it disturbed the wildlife around them, causing birds to fly off into the night.

"Show yourself! Return the young girl at once!" Nasir commanded, to which was answered with a loud laugh. Suddenly, the swooping sound passed by once more, thrashing Nasir to the ground. His spear was taken and smashed. Agron rushed to his side, who in turn was thrashed down, landing on Nasir.

"Ahh."

"Ughh"

Both uttered. Agron tried to get up, but a searing pain in his arm prevented him doing so. He rolled off Nasir in agony. A groan turned into a scream.

"Ahhh…..!" Agron uttered, grabbing his arm in agony. Nasir cried out too, as his arm was also inflamed.

'My work is complete. Welcome new Brothers.' the voice said, which vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, Nasir and Agron were in total and utter pain. Both rolled around on the ground, confused as to what just happened. Agron could not describe the feeling. It was as if his own blood was boiling beneath his skin. He cried out, as his body was now convulsing. Nasir , who was also in a seizure like state, barley uttered words.

"Agron, my insides burn!"

"Yes, mine t-too!" Agron replied, losing all control of his body.

That voice, that figure, who ever her was, he did something to Agron and Nasir. Something that was considered a 'Fairytale' among the Romans. Also a tale told by Agron's people, who would soon find out, once he got a look at himself the next morning.

-

Agron woke up in a daze…His vision cleared fast…He was in the hotel room he and Nasir checked into last night. He sat up slightly, he appeared to be on the floor. Nasir lay next to him, still unconscious. Agron leaned his head down, Nasir was still breathing. That was a good sign. They must have been poisoned. Were they perhaps rescued and given an antidote? Just as he thought that, he noticed something different about himself. His nail scars the Roman's inflicted were gone. The scars he had received in the Arena were gone. Even the burn mark of Batiatus had left him. What had that mysterious person done to them? Suddenly, he felt movement beside him. Nasir had awoken.

"W-What…..Oh my head feels like it was bashed inward…." Nasir groaned, rubbing it in agony. Agron couldn't believe his eyes. Nasir's eyes were pitch red, and he had fangs of a dog.

"Agron, is everything all right?" Nasir asked. Agron ran to the mirror in the corner, he too had the same appearance.

"Fuck the gods! Do you know what has become of us?!" Agron said in a panic.

"I-I-No not at all. All I remember is being in the forest, then everything went dark." Nasir replied, sitting up slightly.

Agron sighed, pacing the room. Once Nasir got a look at himself in the mirror, he nearly screamed. "A-Agron! M-My face! My body! My scars, they have vanished! What in Jupiters cock has become of us?! " Nasir asked in a loud panicked voice.

"Silence, the others will wake. I do not wish it to happen while we are in this state." Agron replied, opening the window doors slightly. He than stuck out his arm.

"The sun feels heavy, but it does not burn. We must be a different breed." Agron muttered.

"AGRON, CEASE TOUNGE OF RIDDLES AND SPEAK TRUTH!"

Nasir demanded. He tried to yell, but his throat did not enable him. It felt like that day when Spartacus sealed his wounds with a fire stricken sword. Only instead of his abdomen, it felt like that sword was stuck clean down his throat. He gripped it, staying his voice. Agron sighed and fell next to Nasir on the bed.

"There are legends among my people. I used to think it was just a fearsome tale told by adults to punish children. Now I see, that they are to be branded truth." Agron said, also gripping his throat. "We are men of the night." Agron finished, laying down on the bed.

"Men-of-the-night?" Nasir repeated, laying next to him.

"Yes. In Syria did your people ever speak of blood sucking demons?" Agron asked.

"I-I was but a babe. I do remember a slave trader threatening me that if I did not cooperate, the blood demon would come in the night and slit my throat." Nasir replied, reliving the horrible memory. "A-Are you saying we are blood demons?" Nasir finished.

Agron turned his head and simply replied "Yes. When nightfall comes, we will hunt." Agron said finally, pulling Nasir close. "We need to take control of thirst, so we do not attack the others the day after." Agron said once more, drifting off. Nasir nodded, slowly drifting off too.