I DO NOT OWN SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA. SHOUTOUT TO NIMLOTH OF THAY AND ALL WHO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THIS STORY.

Ludus of Vettius. Capua, Rome. A few days later.

Vettius continued to send his ill trained gladiators to kill the former Roman at the behest of Legatus Septimus; but Seuso simply would not die. Every man that Vettius sent into the arena was slain. Flavius become popular with the common people of Capua for his ability to defy death. Meanwhile, Septimus's anger with his former subordinate grew; as did his frustration with Vettius. Every time his gladiators lost a match, the young Lanista got a hard back hand from the Roman commander and harsh words flooded the youth's ear.

"You useless sack of wine!" Septimus roared as he backhanded Vettius after another defeat at the hands of Flavius. "Your fucking slaves can't kill a single man, what good are you?"

"I have pushed my slaves to train past their limits, the fault lies not with me!" Vettius barked back.

"Then why do I see no results?" Septimus challenged with fury.

"Your deserter defies death at every turn…he seems blessed by the gods." Vettius gasped as he rose to his feet.

"No! The gods curse his very name by tearing him from the freeman's path." Septimus growled as he punched a wall and left the imprint of his fist. "I will have his blood…and I shall have all of it!"

"How do you intend to accomplish this?" The young Lanista inquired. "I will need to procure more slaves to train. Your nemesis depletes my stock daily!"

"Flavius is but a beast...therefore, I shall employ a beast." The legatus replied with an evil grin on his face. He would defy the gods themselves in order to shed the blood of his hated enemy.


House of Batiatus. Capua, Roman Republic.

Flavius did not know a moment's peace over the next few days. He became a regular fixture in the lesser matches of the morning. He gained victory after victory against the cock eaters that Vettius threw in his way. Being back at the Ludus brought him no relief.

Most of the time was spent training with Doctore and sparring with Ashur. The Syrian was becoming more skilled with sword in hand with each passing day and Flavius could tell. Ashur had even managed to beat the mighty Dagan during one of their training sessions.

When he was not training, Gaia continued to demand his attention. His first performance have proved to be so enjoyable, that she begged Lucretia to make it a permanent arrangement. Lucretia, loving her gal pal, could it refuse and thus, Flavius found himself in Gaia's bed almost every night.

"By the gods, you continue to prove yourself a champion." Gaia declared with pleasure as she laid on Flavius's chest after another fuck session.

"Gratitude Domina." Flavius replied as he forced himself to hold the Roman woman close. Gaia clearly enjoyed having the youthful affections of a strong man after so long of withered flesh grasping at her. Flavius couldn't enjoy Gaia's charms because every time he laid with her, it felt like a betrayal to Diona. What else could he do? Gaia was as much his Domina as Lucretia was. To refuse her wishes was to invite death and then who would find his sister?


2 days later.

Luckily, Flavius soon enjoyed a brief respite. After another great victory against Vettius's men, Flavius was rewarded with wine and coin. He also requested that Diona be sent to his chambers and Batiatus allowed it; knowing how Flavius favored the slave girl. As for Diona, her spirits were greatly raised by this and when she was sent to Flavius's chambers, the 2 made passionate love as if they had not seen each other in many years.

After the passionate lovemaking had ceased, Flavius and Diona laid together on his cot. As Flavius let his fingers explore her body, he could tell that she was upset. He knew immediately what it was. Rumors had run rampant about Gaia making Flavius her man whore.

"Diona…what troubles you?" He inquired as he kissed her forehead.

"Many things." She muttered as she planted kisses on his chest.

"Gaia means nothing to me, I do as commanded." Flavius insisted as he turned Diona's head to look in his eyes. "You alone own my heart, Diona."

"I trust you, my love. I know that choice is removed from your hands, but it still pains me to see that bitch put your cock inside her. That is not all that troubles me." Diona insisted with pin in her voice.

"Then what else is it?" Flavius asked with confusion.

"It is Naevia, my dear friend." Diona explained with tears in her eyes. "I feel as though she is as shadow; no longer a person. When Domina was entertaining Cossutius…he took Naevia for his own. He forced such indignities on her…"

"Fucking savage." Flavius growled as it turned his stomach to think of women being debased and raped at the whims of their masters.

"I do what I can to lift her spirits, but she feels as no more than a common whore." Diona wept as Flavius held her close to him; desperate to take her pain away.

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