Lyrics: 'I knew you were trouble' by Taylor Swift. The lyrics I choose typically reveal something about the characters, or the place or the situation, albeit in a vaguely obscured way.
I hope you enjoy this chapter :D Thanks for reading!
Chapter Two: Trouble Brewing
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
Upon return to my brother's Villa, I was greeted with a loud shriek before being attacked by small arms.
"Liana!"
"Antonius," I laughed, swinging the small boy up into my arms and grinning at him. The youngest son of my brother, as yet too young to begin his schooling, spent most of his day on his mother's hip, save for the few times he managed to evade her grasp.
Decimus had three children; a son, the eldest, Egnatius, a daughter, his second child, Drusilla, and of course, Antonius. Of his three children, Antonius had most similar features to his father; dark hair, amber eyes, and a straight nose. Drusilla looked remarkably like her mother; tall, slim, with light blonde hair, feather soft, and blue eyes. Egnatius had his father's dark hair and amber eyes but his mother's father's square jaw and broad shoulders.
"How were the games?" His wide amber eyes, a trait common to our family, gazed at me in question.
"Sshh," I said, pressing a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture, "you'll give away my secret."
"I'd never tell," he said in his child-like, genuine voice.
"Antonius!" A female voice called, and I recognized it as Iovita's, Decimus' wife, as she appeared in the entrance, smiling at the little boy gripping me as I held him. "Oh, Liana, I did not know you were back so soon. How be the markets?"
Antonius buried his face in my hair at my neck and I could feel him smiling, holding back laughter at his mother not being aware of the secret. "The same as every other market, I would suppose. Hot and crowded," I said, by way of answer.
Her eyes took up a suspicious tint and she walked towards me, stopping only a few paces from me, her hand rising to cover her nose, "Aureliana, the Gods above could smell your stink! Did you go to the games?"
"I…" I faltered. In the face of the people I held closest, I found it difficult to lie in response to a direct question. "…Did, yes."
"Your brother," she began but I shook my head.
"Need not concern himself with trivial matters," I suggested hopefully. A reluctant smile lifted her lips and she shook her head at my plain eagerness and pleading.
"You know his thoughts on the matter, and yet proceed to ignore them…"
"Is Decimus home from day's business?" I asked, changing the current topic of our discussion in hopes she would drop the matter. She nodded her head. "Perfect. I would see him now."
"Perhaps should bathe first?" she suggested.
"After," I stated. "Words of my day's travels will undoubtedly slip from your lips at the slightest provocation. It would be best for such words to come from me."
She nodded and I placed her son on the ground, walking towards the room my brother held his work in. I knocked on the door and waited for him to permit me entrance.
"Aureliana," he said upon seeing me walk towards him. My brother was perhaps the only one to call me by my full name, refraining from using the nickname. "How goes your day?"
"Decimus, do not be mad," I started, watching him slowly lower the pieces of parchment he had been going over to look at me properly.
"Ominous beginning words. Often followed by such that would anger, when considering the woman who gives voice to them."
"I attended the games," I said in a rush.
He stood up abruptly, his face a calm mask. The only indication that he was angry was the slight darkening of his eyes, the same colour as mine. That was the thing about my brother; he did not outwardly display his emotions; he was patient and compassionate, but difficult to read and predict. Just like our father before him, and his father before ours. "You know I did not want. The sport is too gruesome for such delicate disposition."
My brother put much stock in the fragility of women; and though it was vaguely irritating for him to consider me too sweet for something so bloody, I knew it was his way of protecting me from the ways of the world and everything in it.
"You are too sweet, Aureliana, too innocent to set eyes upon such brutality," he folded his arms across his chest.
If it were to my brother, I would know nothing of the world; he would cocoon me in his Villa never to know what the world had to offer, good or bad.
"We are not in agreement, then," I sighed softly, for though the games made me ill to the stomach, it also whipped me into a frenzy of uncontrollable feelings, feelings so gripping and all-consuming, that I was not sure I could leave the games in my past now and forget about the way it made me feel more than anything else. "The day was not ill-spent. Caught sight of Quintus Batiatus and wife, Lucretia. Invitation was kindly extended for visit."
His mouth dropped slightly, "You wish to leave us?"
"I've grown to a hassle," I said lightly. "Perhaps a short break would be good to clear heads and strengthen hearts."
"If you were married," he suggested but I shook my head. If I were married, we'd have more distance between us and our sibling bond could possibly be stronger in absence of constantly being around each other, day and night.
"But I am not."
"I'll find you a suitable match." If he really wanted to, he would. Deep down, I believe he could not bear the thought of handing me to another man, he just did not know it.
"And I would not have it so. I do not wish to remain unwed forever," I said gently to reassure him, "I simply desire to know more of the world before I know a husband and children not long after. Please, you understand Decimus?"
"I will never understand, but will grant what you desire, sister," he said softly, before gathering me gently in his arms in an embrace. He pulled back, "Now bathe. Your stench makes head ache."
I laughed and left, Cassia close by as we went to rid myself of the sweat and dust of the day.
.
.
.
Cassia began to pack my things the morning of the day I was to visit. When I woke, she helped me dress in a red stola, a colour similar to blood and I tried not to think of it spilling into sand, that reached the ground, held up by thin fastenings at my shoulders, bunched material falling down my chest and exposing the tops of my breasts. She arranged my thick hair into the current style; most of it pined up loosely in intricate braids and twists, the bottom free flowing in chestnut curls that reached down to my hips. Small curls twisted the shorter strands around my face. Cassia's deft fingers easily attached small, delicate flowers made of gold into my hair. Earrings the same as the little flowers were placed through my ears.
When she was finished, she handed me a small mirror to see what she had done, "Talent lives in your fingers," I smiled at her, "You truly have a gift."
It was true; Cassia was good at manipulating hair to sit the way she wanted. "Thank you, Liana."
Decimus allowed a few of his slaves to carry my things to the House of Batiatus ahead of me, preferring instead to walk through the markets this morning to inspect what wares on show with Cassia. I draped the palla, the same shade of red as my stola, around my shoulders, the edges embroidered in gold threading.
The day was warm, but not uncomfortably so as the sun was not yet at its highest point, and we trailed through the streets, stopping every now and then at a stall displaying jewelry and accessories. We discussed the merits of buying such lavish pieces before deciding, as most other women would, that it would not be a good purchase; extravagance was frowned upon and most of the pieces were vastly extravagant.
As we walked, we heard whispers, which became excited talking. At first we ignored it, but then paid closer attention. "Gannicus is to fight!"
"-Gannicus has arrived!"
"-Just up ahead!"
"-In the markets!"
Cassia and I looked at each other before racing forward in the direction people were gathering. I grabbed Cassia's hand, tugging her behind me as I pushed my way forward to the front. "Lucretia!" I called and she turned, eyes roaming over people until she saw me pushing my way forward. She smiled and when I reached her, she gathered me in her arms in welcome.
"Aureliana, what - ,"
"Liana," I emphasized and she smiled.
"Of course, Liana, what are you doing?"
"Talk made its way to ears of your presence," I lied. Talk of Gannicus' presence made its way to my ears. "What commands attention this morning?"
"The best of our gladiators is to fight the best of Vetius' to prove once and for all the better ludus," she explained, before twisting slightly towards the woman standing beside her. "Aureliana, this is loyal friend, Gaia. Remember, I mentioned last night?" She asked Gaia who nodded, smiling sweetly.
Gaia's hair was a deep red, a similar colour to my dress. It was fashionable for many women to dye their hair red, black or blonde. Her pale green dress draped down further, exposing the middle of her chest for all to see. She was of a similar age to Lucretia, with a daring smile upon her lips.
"A pleasure," I said and Gaia turned to Lucretia.
"She is but a treasure," she laughed, leaning closer and beckoning us both to lean closer to her so that we may speak quietly together. "Lucretia, I believe it is our duty to take this positively delectable little dove under our wing and show her the ways of the world, the ways of men and the ways of love. We must teach her." I smiled at how genuine she seemed, seeming to appear excited at the prospect of my company rather than irritated at the possibility of monopolizing her friend's attention.
Our discussion was interrupted by Vetius' voice and I straightened up, suddenly realizing right in front of me was Gannicus. His broad, toned and tanned back faced me, rising above me and blocking my view. I looked at Cassia who seemed to have noticed the same thing.
"Words fall from your mouth as shit from ass," Vetius said and my face scrunched at the image his words painted in my mind.
"Let us not become mired in base exchange," Tulius' voice broke through and I leaned around Gannicus body to see what was going on in front of me. In reaction to my movement, Gannicus' head turned slightly to the side so his peripheral vision could extend further. His reflexes were unsurprisingly astute, but it did surprise me just how aware he was of all movement around him. With only a small turn of his head, he looked back to the front after discovering the person behind him was not going to plunge a sword into his back. "We are gathered this wonderful day to witness honourable contest between respected rivals. Clear a space!"
People moved back and so did we to allow for room. My hand was still gripping Cassia's.
"The years have favoured Tulius," Gaia said. She must be looking for a husband.
"And his purse," Lucretia added.
"Gratitude to magistrate Sextus for allowing such a thrilling event in the streets of the great city of Capua!" Tulius said, coaxing the crowd into a loud cheer. "Batiatus, present your man."
"In honour of the magistrate, esteemed Tulius, and the good people of Capua, I give to you the fiercest Celt," Quintus was saying, but my eyes were stuck on Gannicus as he held his head up, shaking his hands slightly as he rotated his body towards what I guessed was the doctore, who was holding his swords. Gannicus' eyes ran over the crowd, flitting for just a second on me. But he held my eyes and I frowned slightly at his nerve. I looked away first, my face feeling slightly hot in what I assumed was anger as I frowned at nothing in particular. Gannicus was trouble, that I could very well tell. Everything about him screamed it; from the mischievous grin to the steadiness of his hands. "Ever to take up arms in the arena, slayer of beasts, conqueror of giants, behold, Gannicus! Champion of the House of Batiatus!"
The crowd cheered and Gannicus spurred them on, lifting his swords high above his head and walking into the middle of the cleared space.
"A fine choice! Vetius, present your man!" Tulius shouted.
"I have no tongue for overripe embellishments nor is it required. Othos, stand forth," Vetius said.
"Your day finally comes!" Othos growled at Gannicus.
"And your's ends," he replied in amusement, pointing a sword at him. He looked over his shoulder at me, a large grin adorning his face and I realized he was trying to make me uncomfortable. He was an arrogant jester, and he enjoyed the thrill of testing someone above his station. My jaw clenched and this time I held his gaze determinedly, narrowing my eyes. He laughed as he swung his head back around to face his opponent.
"Gratitude Batiatus and Vetius!" Tulius was saying. "Now! Let us judge who stands the better house!" he called to the crowd and their voice became a roar of excitement and approval. The two gladiators crouched into position.
Sextus, the magistrate, raised his arm to begin the fight, but Vetius stopped him, "Apologies Magistrate, there appears to be something missing. Where is your man's blindfold?" he asked Quintus. The crowd didn't quite know what to make of that, but my mouth dropped open, eyes widening in surprise.
Gannicus was to fight blindfolded? That was crazy, there was no way he'd win with a blindfold.
"Blindfold? What the fuck?" Quintus said, half-laughing as he looked around. Vetius' slave handed him a white strip of cloth and Quintus' mouth dropped.
"That was your boast, was it not?" Vetius asked, his smile one of a predator. Gannicus turned to look at Quintus with a disbelieving frown. "That any one of your men could best one of mine, absent sight."
Shock registered in the crowd and Quintus and Gannicus looked at each other, Quintus not sure if this was happening, and Gannicus not sure if Quintus would force him to it.
"You did voice such a challenge," Tulius said gravely, his dark eyes hooded like he almost regretted it. A shiver ran up my spine at his voice and I felt that his solemn demeanor was false, that under it laid a predator too. It was frightening.
"Simple figure of speech, not meant to be - ," he turned to Tulius in desperation, "Good Tulius."
"If Batiatus does not wish to honour terms, he should remove himself with tail between legs," Vetius said.
Quintus didn't say anything in reply and turned to look at Gannicus. Slowly, Gannicus turned toward the doctore and handed him his swords, "Doctore."
It was the first thing I'd heard him say, his voice was deep and husky; it ran over my skin and sent a shiver, a good shiver, up my spine. I pushed such silly feelings away as for the third time, Gannicus' eyes rested on me, my eyes wide in disbelief. A small smile lifted his lips as he turned and I scolded myself for giving way to such emotions, especially for the arrogant gladiator to see.
"Come," Gannicus said to the slave, to bring the blindfold. My free hand flew to grip Cassia's arm as well, gripping tightly, before realising what I was doing and relaxing my grip.
"The task should not be that difficult," his confident, so very arrogant voice rang out. "I need only direct my blades towards the smell of shit." And he tied the blindfold around his face, obscuring his eyes. I shook my head in disbelief.
"Gannicus, ever the fool," the doctore's voice said lowly.
People moved further back and the gladiators took up position. "Are you going to allow this, Quintus?" Lucretia asked her husband.
"The choice has been removed from my hands," he replied, not looking at all happy.
The magistrate raised his hand. The other gladiator tapped his sword against his shield and Gannicus turned his head slightly, listening.
My palms were sweaty with nerves, my heart threatening to leap out of my chest. There was no way Gannicus could win; he was blindfolded, without sight. How would he know when to duck, which way to move, where to thrust his swords? There was no way for him to win with such an unfair disadvantage. Gannicus was going to lose. Possibly die.
Why was I so nervous at the thought? If Gannicus were to die, it would solve the problem of Cassia's. Visius would be able to continue to live, because while he was a good fighter, a good gladiator, he wouldn't be able to win against someone unbeatable. Good may as well be terrible in comparison to unbeatable.
And yet, I did not think my heart was beating so fast in hope of Gannicus' death. I did not think my mouth was dry or my hands were tightly gripping Cassia's arm for that reason. But they should.
I glanced at Tulius, how his eyes seemed to get smaller as he watched the two gladiators face each other, particularly Gannicus' blindfold, and again I felt like Tulius was not who I thought.
As if the Parcae were speaking to me, I had the feeling trouble was brewing in the future, and not just for Quintus. For me as well, but I wasn't sure why.
The magistrates' hand dropped, "Begin!"
And the gladiators were spurred into action. Othos charged forward and swing his sword. Gannicus ducked and I gasped, hands tightening around Cassia's. She winced slightly. "Forgive," I whispered absentmindedly, eyes stuck to the battle.
How did he fight when he couldn't see? The clang of metal against metal rang out and Gannicus blocked each blow, even striking some of his own. He swung around, knocking Othos to the ground before climbing up his body to reach his hand with the sword in it. He slammed Othos' hand against the ground to dislodge the sword, andhe grunted, sword flying away as he flipped them over, on top of Gannicus before pounding his brutish arms down on him. I cringed, my finger tightening around Cassia's arm and I couldn't let up.
Somehow, Gannicus managed to grab a hold of Otho's arm at his neck, wrapping his legs around Othos's head, pushing back so it became a wrestle.
"How thrilling," Gaia said to Solonius, "I've never seen such a thing."
Thrilling? More like terrifying.
"And for good reason," Solonius replied, just as Othos lifted Gannicus into the air and brought him back down, slamming him into the ground hard. My hand was getting a cramp.
Othos was off him in a second, and Gannicus stood up, disorientated. Blood coloured his blindfold. My heart lurched in response. Othos slammed his shield into Gannicus' legs, and he fell. When he went to get back up, Othos kicked his ribs, and when he tried again, he kicked his face.
Gannicus was on his back, what section of his face was visible was scrunched in pain. How that must have hurt.
Get up, I thought. Get up!
Wait, get up? No, stay down! I shook my head to dislodge previous thoughts; undeniably, I could feel myself rooting for Gannicus and I shouldn't. I frowned, confused. How would Cassia feel if she knew?
The sun beat down, hot, and Cassia whispered, "Liana, I can not feel my hand."
I glanced down at her hand, which I was squeezing ridiculously tight, and attempted to loosen my grip. Perhaps my brother was right; I had not the heart for violence such as this. Too badly did I fear Gannicus would not win.
"A noble attempt," Solonius said to Quintus and I was surprised at how little faith he had that Gannicus would get up. I barely knew the gladiator and I felt it.
"To be remembered only in its failing," Quintus replied harshly.
Gannicus stood up, and Othos had his sword, which he swung at Gannicus. This time, he was not so lucky; the blade cut his chest, spraying blood onto a man nearby.
"Oh!" I shouted, eyes wide as one hand holding Cassia's flew to my mouth.
Gannicus turned his head slightly, and I saw Gaia eye me quizzically. "Is it not exciting?" Gaia asked me, smiling.
"No. Frightening," I replied.
"Frightening?" She frowned. "But you are in no danger."
"I fear for Gannicus," I explained, the words falling from my lips before I thought to stop them. Cassia sharply turned to look at me but I could not meet her eyes.
Then I could sense a change in Ganncius, the change in the battle between these two gladiators. Othos swung and Gannicus ducked, before getting close and blocking the sword with his wrist, the other slamming across Othos' face, going on the attack.
"You fear for the slave?" Gaia asked, and Lucretia turned to look at me for answer too.
"I fear the slave will not provide win for distant cousin, the House of Batiatus," I replied quickly, smoothly.
They appeared satisfied with the answer and I tried to discern if that truly was the reason. It must be; I only wished the best for my cousin and his wife, and I would see their house elevated.
Gannicus grabbed Othos' head and rolled them over, so he was on top, and he slammed his fists down into Othos' face as he punched him. And then they were standing up, gripping each other's necks, and Othos pushed him back into the wall, punching Gannicus in the face. There was so much blood on his face, I winced.
Gaia, gasped excitedly, well into the match, but my stomach turned.
Othos had Gannicus on the floor, and his hand reached out, grabbing a nail and shoving it into his chest. Gannicus cried out in pain. I held back a scream. I could barely stand to watch, but I couldn't turn away.
Gannicus threw Othos off him, and stood up, panting. Blood left trails down his skin. Othos picked up his sword and swung at Gannicus, the sword embedding itself into a plank of wood. The next second, Gannicus ducked under it, his agility bringing him around behind Othos quickly, slamming him down on the wooden plank twice. Then a battle of strengths occurred as Gannicus tried to force Othos' exposed neck to the blade stuck in the wood.
My breathing was sallow and quick, and I went onto the tops of my toes to see better, not to see a neck possibly cut open, but to see if Gannicus would be victorious. He pushed Otho's neck down the blade and blood spilled out from the cut.
'Yes!" Quintus shouted enthusiastically. "Fucking kill him!"
Gannicus grabbed the blade and stepped away from Othos' body. The crowd went wild for him. Blood covered his chest as he panted, and the crowd converged on him. I remained next to Lucretia and Cassia, awestruck.
Slowly, Gannicus lifted his blindfold off, disorientated, and above the roar was Quintus' voice, "Have you ever seen the like?"
Gannicus turned around so he was facing us, his eyes locked on mine, as an enthralled, half-shocked, half-disbelieving smile lifted his lips, which turned to ecstasy as he lifted his arms in the air, victorious. My wide eyes, took him in, all the blood covering him, but I did not feel ill at the sight of it. Instead, my heart fluttered and I bit my lip. Even with the distance between us, I could tell his body would tower over mine and for the briefest of moments, so fleeting I wasn't entirely sure I'd thought it, I imagined running my hands over that bare chest, despite the blood, to touch the skin. To see if he was really real, and not just a mirage created by the midday heat.
People moved in front of me, blocking my view, and I was back on the ground. Slowly, my disbelieving face turned to Cassia. Her eyes were fearful, and that brought me back. Now that the fight was over and Gannicus was alive, my mind turned back to the implications that meant, and I gasped.
"Fucking blindfolded, and he's still unbeatable," I whispered harshly. Such vulgar words felt wrong on my tongue, but in the moment, it felt like the only words that could sum up what I now knew.
I feared for what this development would mean for Visius.
Hi all,
So, thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
In case you didn't know, the Parcae are the Roman equivalent of the Fates in Greek Mythology. People often thought, in those times, that the God's were speaking to them, telling them things of the future and what not, so it makes sense for Aureliana to think such things as well. Either the next chapter or the one after is where she'll finally meet with Gannicus, which I'm super excited to write and I hope you're super excited to read!
Thank you so much to those who reviewed! It means so much to me! I'll be putting replies at the end of each chapter, so here they are;
CoastalGirl: Thank you so much for being my first reviewer! I'm glad you liked the first chapter and hopefully you liked this one too! I'm kind of excited to write what happens when Aureliana actually arrives at the Villa, so I'm excited you're interested in reading it!
Camelotprincess1: Haha, Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it so much already, even though it's only one chapter long (well, now two chapters long). I hope you enjoyed this chapter too! Yay, I'm glad you think Liana is interesting, and I'm excited to write some interaction between Gannicus and Liana – I agree, there's definitely not enough, which is why I decided to write this. I'm glad you like the relationship between Liana and Cassia! Thanks so much for reviewing!
Update: Haha, thank you so much for reviewing! I'm glad you like it so far, and that you like my OC's. I'm excited to write some Gannicus/Aureliana interaction, so I'm glad you're excited to write it! Thanks so much!
Caleb's babe: Aw, thank you! I'm glad you liked the first chapter! I suppose this chapter was an answer, but yes, there will be more :D Thanks so much for reviewing and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Elena0928: Thank you for reviewing, I'm glad you're interested in reading more of my story :D I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Sandradee27: Aw, Thanks! I'm glad you like it so far, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I totally agree; Gannicus is extremely hot! And there aren't many Spartacus stores, which is why I decided to write this one. Thanks so much for reviewing!