A thought came to her suddenly and she raised her eyes to meet those of her accuser.
"We follow a religion different from those of most Romans, yet it is one that wishes no harm to the emperor or anyone within his realm."
"But…"
"Our religion is one of peace, Sir, one that desires harmony with all." There was that in the green eyes of the damsel, as the moon shone brightly upon them and the diamond-light of the stars were reflected within their boundless depths, that prevented the centurion from questioning her further. Calliliana observed this with relief and she gently placed her hand upon her stomach. "I do believe the pains have abated. Shall we…shall we go in?"
"Of course," stammered Agrippa, as he offered her his arm. He thought at first that she would not take it, but after the hesitation of a moment, she gently placed her small hand within the crook of his elbow. Marcus jumped slightly then, as he felt the extreme coolness of the young woman's hand upon his skin…it felt more to him like that of a corpse than of a living woman. At the same time, as he carefully walked beside her, the soldier of Rome nearly reeled with the pleasure of her nearness to him.
"Thank you for your kindness," the maiden said softly, once the two were within the villa. Agrippa shook his head.
"Not at all." Before he cold restrain himself, he reached out a rough, calloused hand and lightly stroked her face. "Sleep well." Calliliana jumped at his touch, and a troubled light came into her face. She nodded hastily, dipped her head in a graceful bow, and hurried back to the room of her husband.
Marcus wiped his hand over his face, as if trying to wipe away his thoughts. "She is so beautiful," he murmured quietly, "so innocent." A light, like more to the fires of hell than the beauty of the sun, dawned in his hawk-eyes. The toughened soldier suddenly strode about the interior of the villa with a purpose, his eyes seeking that which he had not seen—which he was not like to see. No. There were no Romanesque statues, no altars…nothing. Leander Maximinus and his wife were Christians—or, at least Agrippa suspected them as such. The woman he would not condemn, but the man…his eyes narrowed with hate as he thought of the woman's husband. Oh yes, the man would serve as his token to play the emperor's favor.
As he Agrippa made his way back to his chamber to collect his things, a thought came to him--"you do not know that this man is a Christian." Marcus dressed hurriedly, made his belongings into a traveling bundle, and surreptitiously left the villa. He cast a look back at the place, the hospitality of his guest forgotten.
"Oh no, Maximinus," he whispered into the chill night air, "I do not know. But I suspect."
That was enough.
"Morning, Precious." Leander tenderly woke his wife with a kiss on her pretty red lips. She opened her emerald eyes wide, sleep still shrouding them with a slightly hazy look.
"Morning." She wound her arms around his neck and clung to him tightly, her head nestled confidingly against his chest. The young man wrapped his arms around her in return, and with a shock of pleasure, he felt his child move within her.
"I can feel him, my Darling," he whispered into her ear. She started to giggle, but it turned quickly into a moan.
"I so wish the child would come, Leander. He pains me." She attempted to release her husband to place a hand on her belly, but he was too fast for her. Maximinus flipped her on her back and expertly placed his hands on her stomach, touching her with different strengths that would have been hard for her to do alone. The anguished groans of the young woman ceased in a matter of moments, and she thanked him with a kiss. Calliliana began to pull away to stare into the eyes of her husband, but he would have none of it. The young man held her in place with one hand, used the other to tenderly stroke her long hair, and kissed her as roughly as he dared.
Their tender love was most rudely interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door below. Calliliana, who could never quite remember that she was the privileged wife of a wealthy young man and not a servant, started and attempted to get out of bed. He laughed at her and swatted her playfully.
"Kalyca will get it, you silly little girl." Leander looked into her eyes longingly. "Stay with me."
He was leaning in to kiss her once more, when the door to their room was roughly flung wide. He turned on his side, prepared to chide the old servant woman for neglecting to knock—and was quite surprised to see, instead, five soldiers standing before him. Calliliana shrieked softly and clutched the bedclothes about her, and Leander stood. He was clad only in a thin linen tunic, but there was enough wrath in his face give him the dignity to inspire fear even in the mail-clad warriors.
"What business do you here, at this hour? And in so rude a manner?" The tallest of the men stepped forward.
"By order of the emperor Commodus, commander of the realm, you, Leander Maximinus, are under arrest." Leander's eyes were filled with anger now, a fury so great that the men before him quite visibly shrank back.
"ON WHAT CHARGES?" he cried, his voice like thunder. At a sign from their commander, three of the soldiers stepped forward. One rammed the young man in the abdomen, causing him to double forward with pain, while the others bound his hands behind his back.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Calliliana shrieked, darting forward. The men stopped then and stared at her, clad only in her thin nightdress—especially so, her beauty was much to be contemplated. Her face was flushed with emotion, and her eyes were bright with unshed tears. The commander looked at Maximinus', whose face was contorted with pain.
"You have a pretty slave."
"Wife, you mean," Leander snarled. Calliliana stepped forward, her hand upon her stomach.
"Please," she murmured, "please. You see that greatly am I with child…let my husband at least stay with me until the birth of our child…" The commander shook his hand.
"No. I have my orders." The tears that filled the young woman's eyes fell freely now.
"I beg of you!"
"No!" One of the men laughed evilly and moved suggestively towards her.
"Unless, Commander, you would allow her to do us some favors…perhaps that would convince us."
Leander uttered a snarl of rage and fiercely fought against his bonds.
"Enough!" shouted the commander. With one swift move, he backhanded the young woman brutally across the face. She fell to the floor with a cry of anguish, trying desperately to prevent her stomach from being crushed in the fall. "As for you," he continued, eyeing the struggling Leander—he drew his sword and struck him a mighty blow with the flat. The man fell limply to the ground, and the soldiers laughed wickedly as they dragged him away.
Kalyca did not find Calliliana until moments later, by which time she was lying gasping with the tremors of childbirth in a pool of her own blood.