Chapter 8
A new wave of pain shot like fire through his body – starting from his left cheek where the new hit had landed, and burnt its way down his system as if the Fire God himself had set him aflame. Droplets of blood flew from his mouth and nose as he was thrown in the opposite direction, landing with a pained grunt on the hard ground. Endymion squinched his eyes shut against the blinding hot sun in the cloudless sky. Every sore muscle ached, every strained fiber in his body screamed out of pain and exhaustion.
Another pained groan was heard before something hard and heavy landed right beside him, causing golden and bloodied grains of sand to shower down on his face and chest like raspy raindrops.
"You attack as you would a man!" Artemis shouted with fury in his voice as he glared at the two men who were lying on the hot sand before him.
"Theokoles is beyond flesh!" he continued, accentuating every word. "Beyond blood and bone."
Endymion suppressed the pained groan that threatened to escape his lips as he willed his body into a crouching position to face the house's Doctore.
"Theokoles is known as the Shadow of Death for a reason!" Artemis continued harshly. "He is the shadow that precedes death!"
Out of the corner of his eyes, Endymion saw how an equally battered Malachite rose back to his feet. His pale skin was spotted with dark bruises and streaks of blood. The Thracian, too, forced his exhausted body to stand.
"Allow the Shadow to fall upon you alone…" they heard Artemis shout. "… and you are dead."
Endymion's fingers around the handle of his sword clenched as he saw the truth of Artemis' words being reflected in the older man's green eyes.
"Now concentrate! And come at me as one!"
Malachite was the first to attack again, with his training sword held high and a battle cry on his lips that had surely caused many other men's blood to freeze to ice in their veins. Endymion followed suit as he tried to attack Artemis from the other side. Artemis effortlessly sidestepped both of their attacks and pushed an unprepared Malachite back to the hard ground as he kicked his foot against the Celt's hard chest. The Doctore then whirled around to parry the Thracian's assault. Endymion felt how Artemis' training sword hit his back in an explosively painful way, knocking the remaining breath out of his lungs. He faintly realized how the Doctore quickly knelt down onto the floor, bringing his sword at level with Endymion's legs. With one swift movement of his weapon, he made Endymion's feet lose ground, causing the Thracian to crash down onto the floor.
When Artemis got up, his eyes were filled with anger and something close to disappointment as he once again stared down at the supposedly two best gladiators that Capua had to offer.
"Pathetic." he spat with disgust in his voice.
Endymion and Malachite both groaned in pain and exhaustion as they lay side by side on the hot sand of the training ground. With every attack, with every blow, it was getting harder and harder to get up again and face the Doctore. It was when he felt familiar eyes on him that Endymion finally willed his body to move again. Suppressing another pitiful moan, he pulled himself together and sat up. His breath was still labored, and every intake of dusty, warm air was hurting his lungs. His eyes lifted towards the house's balcony, immediately finding the pair of cerulean crystals that haunted his every moment since he first had seen them.
Serenity was standing next to the Dominus – both matching visions of silver and white. A God and his Goddess, watching from high above as the mere mortals at their feet struggled and fought for their worthless lives. Endymion clenched his teeth as he met Serenity's gaze. She wore a mask of impassiveness on her face, and her normally sparkling and happy eyes were cold and hard as she stared down at him. But Endymion knew the truth, knew of the pain and the hurt that lay underneath.
After all, it was him to take the blame for it.
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"Serenity…" Endymion whispered softly against her hair, holding her tightly as she cried bitterly into his chest. "Serenity, it will be alright."
He felt how her hot tears wetted his hard chest, softening his heart that lay underneath. It was the night of the big Celebration before the Pluvia, and she had come to his cell in the middle of the night. Never had he seen his beauty so pale, so distraught when she had entered. Serenity had immediately flung herself into his arms, crying bitterly.
Endymion couldn't do more than hold her tightly, while his own heart had filled with helplessness and misery. There was no need for words, no need for explanations. Both knew about the reason for her distress. It was because he had accepted a challenge, a task that he would probably not be able to be equal to – it was because he had chosen his fate.
"How can you say that?" Serenity cried out as she finally lifted her head from his chest. She looked up at him, with her beautiful eyes red-rimmed and full of accusation. "How could you have accepted such a task?!"
Endymion's body tensed at the thought. He had guessed from the other gladiators' reaction that Theokoles would not be an easy man to defeat, but it was only when they had been brought back to their cells that he had started to realize that he most likely had just willingly offered his live to the God of the Underworld. Malachite had not spoken a word since then, but had immediately gone to his cell. His dutiful lapdogs had stared after him with stoic looks on their faces. They, too, had not uttered a single word since the revelation of who exactly would fight the Primus. Endymion then had asked Andrew about it. The young Roman had just looked at him with concern in his normally happy eyes, and the blond had placed an almost comforting hand on Endymion's shoulder.
"Theokoles…" he had told him slowly. "He is the Shadow of Death. He is more monster than man. He was cut thousands of times in the arena, but never has he fallen. Even the sun hides in his presence, and the skies darken when he enters the arena."
Endymion couldn't help but let out a dismissive snort at that.
"The stories cannot be true." he had said with a light shake of his head. "He, too, is nothing but a man. Red color runs through his veins, and he bleeds crimson lifeblood when hurt. Thus he can be defeated."
But Andrew did not return his dismissive remark, the concerned expression on his face never faltering.
"Perhaps." he finally had said with a sigh. "The fact remains that no living soul has ever faced him and has survived. That is …" he had made a pause there, his eyes focusing on something behind Endymion. "Except for one."
Endymion had followed his friend's gaze and turned around only to meet the Doctore's hard stare that was solely focused on him.
"Artemis is the only man who has ever faced Theokoles and survived it." Andrew whispered with awe sounding in his voice. "It was his last fight in the arena, and he was badly injured even though he put on a memorable match. The Dominus Tadius honored Artemis' fight by granting him life. He didn't defeat Theokoles, but it was a victory nonetheless."
Something close to fear stirred in Endymion's soul as he remembered Andrew's words, but then the desperate face of his sister appeared in his mind's eye.
"How could I not?" Endymion finally answered Serenity's question a little harsher than intended.
He freed himself from the beauty's desperate grasp and turned around to face the small window of his cell. He didn't want her to see the spark of fear in his eyes, nor the self-loathing that always clouded his face whenever he thought of his sister and how he had failed to protect her.
"The Praetor promised to let you buy Raye's freedom if I fight." he continued with his back still turned on Serenity. "It was my duty to accept his offer."
He felt how a gentle hand was placed upon his strained biceps, causing it to immediately relax a little. It always surprised him how she so easily managed to calm him, how one soft touch was enough to make the tight strings around his soul loosen a little. With gentle force, she moved him around to face her. Endymion looked into her beautiful eyes which were filled with compassion and the mirrored hurt that he had tried to hide from her. She placed both hands onto his face, forcing him to look at her.
"Maybe it's your duty to rescue her." she whispered with a hint of desperation in her sweet voice. "But it's not your duty to throw away your own life like that. There must be another way."
"There is none, Serenity." Endymion answered harshly while he once again freed himself from her hold.
Serenity's eyes widened in shock and she let out a startled gasp at his unexpected outburst. Immediately regretting his harsh tone, Endymion let his hand roam his thick raven hair, shaking his head a little.
"There is none, Serenity." he repeated, this time softer, more desperate as he finally looked back at her. "The Praetor's offer was unmistakable. I have no choice – and he knows it."
But Serenity shook her head in response as she came up to him to place both hands onto his chest.
"There is always another way!" the beauty insisted with determination flooding her eyes. "I will talk to Praetor Seiya, he will…."
"No!" Endymion immediately cut her short, his anger returning because of her stubborn insistence. "You will do no such thing, Serenity!"
"But why not?!" Serenity yelled desperately. "Why won't you let me try and save your life, Endymion?"
"Because there is no use!" Endymion shouted enraged. "The Praetor wants to see me dead, Serenity. It is something he wants since Thrace. Do you really think it coincidence that he has called for Theokoles to take part in the games? It is not. Theokoles is here to kill me – no one else!"
Serenity shook her head in angry confusion.
"That's nonsense!" she replied stubbornly. "He could have Malachite kill you during the executions, but he spared your life!"
Endymion couldn't help but laugh at that, earning an angry glare from the beauty in front of him.
"He spared my life because he thought I would not survive another quarter moon." Endymion corrected with a sneer. "And what's more, he only spared me because you begged him to – because he wanted to impress you!"
The angry expression on Serenity's face vanished at once, only to be replaced by a look of pure confusion.
"To impress me?" she echoed with a frown. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Endymion stared at her with disbelief on his face. How could she not have noticed? Was she really that oblivious to the effect she had on other men?
The Thracian non-too gently let his big hand roam his face when he remembered a conversation he had overheard between Artemis and the High Priestess Luna earlier that evening. The black-haired woman had told the Doctore excitedly about Praetor Seiya's upcoming visit at the celebrations, and that he had sent word to Serenity's father that he intended to court the young beauty. It was a thought that made the blood in Endymion's veins boil with anger.
But it was neither the time nor the place to tell Serenity about what he had heard. The Praetor's affections for the beauty were the least of his problems at the moment.´
"Nothing." he therefore growled and turned away from Serenity to hide the anger in his eyes.
Tense silence was filling the room as neither of them said another word.
After a while, Endymion let out a defeated sigh and turned around to face Serenity again.
"Serenity, please." he almost begged as he slowly approached her. "I don't want to fight."
He gently wiped away a lonely tear from her face, his touch gentle and careful. Serenity immediately lent into his touch, and closed her eyes to prevent the other tears from falling.
Endymion immediately locked her in his arms, holding her tightly against his warm chest as he softly kissed the crown of her silver hair.
They stayed like this for several blissful moments before Serenity suddenly lifted her head to look at him, a look of determination dawning on her beautiful face.
"I think you are wrong." she told him with a serious expression, causing Endymion's brows to draw together in confusion.
"No matter what you think, I do not believe that the Praetor is interested in your death."
"Serenity…" Endymion growled, his eyes darkening and glistering with warning.
"No!" she hissed, shaking her head. "I will not watch you offer your life just like this! I will not let you!"
The expression on Endymion's face darkened even further.
"It is my place to decide, Serenity!" he retorted angrily.
"Well then it's mine to decide to do anything in my power to convince the Praetor to spare your life once again!"
It were her carelessly uttered words that made Endymion snap. Something within him told him that she was too naïve, too innocent to mean anything else but talking to the Praetor. But the soothing voice in his head was too soft, too faint to drown out the raging jealousy that made his mind go blank.
His face darkened in a way that Serenity had never seen before. It was a look that made her take some steps back.
"And how exactly are you going to try and convince him, Serenity?" Endymion growled darkly as he approached her with predatory steps. "What kind of powers of yours did you have in mind?"
The beauty gasped as her back hit the wooden cell door behind her, leaving her with nowhere to escape. Endymion's eyes were dark as he continued to move closer, his glistering gaze solely on her.
He stopped when he was only inches before her, and his warm, naked chest pressed into hers.
The Thracian traced her trembling lower lip with his thump.
"Do you think sweetly-spoken pleas from your beautiful mouth will be enough to please him?" he breathed softly, but his voice betrayed the dark look on his face.
"Or maybe…" Serenity took in a sharp breath as Endymion's fingers suddenly left her lips to let them slowly move down her face and chin.
"Maybe…" his eyes never left hers as she felt how his index finger trailed down her neck to the valley of her breasts, and even further downwards past her stomach.
Serenity couldn't help but close her eyes as Endymion's head dipped down to gently kiss her neck. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think as he let his mouth slowly trace upwards, gently suckling her flesh as his lips moved towards her ear.
"Maybe it's something entirely different that could convince him." he whispered hoarsely against the shell of her ear while he pressed his strong body closer against her fragile form, trapping her between him and the cell door.
"What would you be willing to do, my beautiful Domina?" Endymion breathed as he lightly kissed her earlobe. "To please him enough to make him forget about his hatred for me?"
Serenity's eyes flew open as Endymion suddenly cupped her center to emphasize his words. A hard slap echoed through the room, and the young gladiator was forcefully pushed away from her soft form. Endymion returned her heated glare as he looked back at her.
"How dare you?!" Serenity hissed, her eyes alive with burning fury. "How dare you insinuate such a thing?! I am trying to save your life!"
Endymion's face remained expressionless as he stared back at her.
"Why, Endymion?" she cried out, her anger quickly turning back to desperation. "Why are you not trying to do the same?"
There was another moment of suffocating silence before Endymion answered.
"To save my sister's life is the only thing that is important." he replied gravely. "My life does not matter."
"But it matters to me!" Serenity yelled with glistering tears in her eyes.
Endymion's cold heart melted at the sight, and he was tempted to pull her into his arms, to kiss her and tell her how much he cared for her.
How much he loved her.
But instead, he turned his head away from her, hiding the emotions that shone through.
"It shouldn't." he heard himself whisper into the cell's darkness.
Silence filled the room, and Endymion was sure that Serenity was able to hear his frantically beating heart.
"I see." Serenity's voice reached his ears.
It was void of any emotions, hollow and cold.
It made Endymion's system fill with sudden fear – with fear that he might have lost the only light in his miserable light.
His head shot to where Serenity had stood only moments before, but the only thing he saw was how his prison's door closed behind her, leaving him alone in his cell.
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"Rise!" Artemis' harsh voice brought Endymion back to reality. "And face me like men would!"
Endymion kept looking at her for a moment longer. He had not been able to talk to her since then – but he longed for it. He had regretted his words the moment they had escaped his mouth, and he wanted to tell her that there was something else that mattered to him besides his sister. Someone not only worth fighting, but someone worth living for. But she would not grant him audience – no matter how much he had begged Mina to convince her. A hopeful voice inside his head told him that this had not been Serenity's decision, but Mina's instead. That the blonde wanted to protect her Domina from further misery and heartache.
His eyes clouded with endless pain as he tore his gaze away from her, and to face the house's Doctore instead.
Maybe it was for the best.
Maybe he should satisfy himself with knowing that the Gods had granted him some moments of love and happiness before the inevitable.
But it was not enough.
It would never be enough.
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"They dishonor me." Diamond growled as he drank from his goblet of wine, his indigo eyes filling with barely hidden fury as he stared down onto the training grounds. "They would need Mars himself to descend and fight by their sides. Even then victory is doubtful!"
Serenity's fingers tightened their hold around the balcony's rail at her brother's words.
"How could they ever defeat Theokoles if they are not even able to be victorious against Artemis?" Saphir added with a shake of his head.
Serenity felt more than saw how Mina tensed behind her, and Serenity's heart filled with compassion for her friend. She knew that Mina had a thing for the undefeated Celt. She might hide it behind lightly spoken admiration, but Serenity had recognized the look on Mina's face whenever Malachite would enter the arena or training grounds. There was an emotion that was not too different from what she felt herself when having Endymion on her mind.
She winced when said Thracian was once again thrown to the ground. The exhausted and pained expression on his face made her heart grow heavy with desperation.
"How can you allow Rubeus to toy with us like that?" she suddenly heard herself whisper with accusation sounding heavily in her voice. "He manipulated you into agreeing to that fight."
Diamond's head snapped around to look at her, his eyes dark as he glared at the beauty.
"You think I made the wrong decision?" he asked lowly.
Serenity watched as Artemis effortlessly sidestepped another of Malachite's attacks.
"I think you are putting your ego before the house's interests." she hissed while trying to prevent the tears from falling.
"Is that so?" Diamond replied darkly. "Then tell me, sister mine. What exactly is the house's interest?"
Serenity's head whirled around, her blue eyes shaded by darkness as she glared at her brother.
"It surely is not to send the Ludus' most promising gladiators to death!"
Diamond let out a dismissive snort, shaking his head.
"Most promising gladiators you say?" he echoed tauntingly and extended one hand towards the training ground. "How promising are they if they do not even match Artemis' skills?!"
"No gladiator would be prepared for the challenge you have chosen for them." Serenity retorted icily.
"A challenge they have chosen for themselves." Saphir was quick to correct without emotion. "It is in their hands to change the ways of fate. And even if they die, both of them get what they want. Malachite will die a death of glory, and the Thracian will face death by knowing that his sister will be under the house's care. And the house will earn enough money to buy equally skilled gladiators. What else could we want?"
"So that's all there is?" Serenity yelled in frustration. "Certain death and money to buy new men to toy with?"
"Serenity…" Luna whispered and placed a hand onto the beauty's shoulder.
But Serenity immediately freed herself from Luna's touch while glaring at her brother and his body slave.
"That's not enough." she spat before she turned around to storm inside the villa.
Diamond stared after her retreating form and was just about to follow when a soft but determined hand landed on his shoulder to stop him.
"Dominus." Saphir addressed him, shaking his head a little. "Don't."
A brief flicker of resistance darted over the Dominus' face, but he eventually nodded his head.
Sooner or later, she surely would understand.
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"Gladiator!" a soft voice echoed through the dungeons, making Malachite turn around towards the bars that separated the gladiator's realm from the villa. His heart almost stopped when he saw the Domina's blonde body slave standing there.
He didn't answer, just watched as one slender arm reached out through the iron bars, a leathern sac in her hands.
Malachite slowly approached her, his normally hard stare softening with confusion.
"Water." the blonde said with a small smile that made her face even more beautiful. "From Domina. She sends it to help with your training."
Malachite hesitated a little before he took the sac of water from her, his story eyes never leaving hers as their skin touched. A smile almost pulled at his lips as he saw the slight blush color her cheeks.
He kept staring at her without uttering a single word. He could see it in her blue eyes that he was making her uncomfortable, and it filled his system with both amusement and irritation. He somehow didn't want the blonde to be uncomfortable when in his presence. He wanted to see her smile at him, he wanted to hear her voice fill with laughter.
The blonde stared at Malachite a moment longer before she averted her eyes and turned around to leave. A gasp escaped her lips as strong fingers suddenly clasped around her wrist, holding her gently in place.
"I thank you and the Domina." he told her in a deep voice, his stormy grey eyes intent as he looked at her. "She has been very kind."
Softness entered the blonde's eyes and she smiled a sad smile.
"She wishes she could do more for you." she said quietly. "But her hands are bound and her pleas fall on deaf ears."
Malachite titled his head a little to one side, eying the blonde beauty closely. Was there regret shimmering in her eyes? Fear even?
"Then my ears are deaf as well." Malachite told her, causing an irritated look to appear on Mina's face.
"You wish to fight against Theokoles?" the blonde asked wide-eyed.
"I long for it." was Malachite's immediate response, and the smallest hint of tenderness was replaced by his well-known stoic expression of a gladiator.
"To what end?" the blonde whispered, shaking her head in confusion.
"I am a gladiator. My destiny is to fight and win the arena. And shall I part from this world, I will part as a legend." Malachite said and lifted his chin proudly.
"Honor and glory…." Mina said, and it was only then that Malachite detected how her eyes had watered. "That is all you care about, isn't it?"
Malachite's jaw dropped a little at the bitterness in her voice, at the small hint of accusation that he had heard. He had not expected such a reaction, nor did he expect his heart to grow heavy at the sight of the blonde's distress.
He had already opened his mouth, ready to give her a response without even knowing what the response would be, when another voice echoed through the dungeons.
"Mina." Endymion's voice sounded, making Malachite's hand to immediately leave the blonde's wrist.
"I need to talk to you."
Malachite turned around, glaring at the Thracian.
"Alone." Endymion added as he met the Celt's icy stare with a glare of his own.
"You will not order me around, Thracian scum." Malachite growled through clenched teeth, causing Endymion's eyes to narrow to dangerous slits.
"Go and rest, prepare your strength for the fight tomorrow, Malachite." Endymion replied tensely.
Without sparing the Celt another glance, he walked towards the bars, his eyes solely focused on Mina.
"I need to talk to you." Endymion repeated, the words impatient as he spoke.
Malachite watched as Mina's face immediately darkened.
"I have no words to give." she stated coldly, surprising the Celt anew.
Endymion shook his head, clearly not accepting her answer.
"Mina." the Thracian growled her name, anger now clearly visible on his face.
Malachite had to admit that he was impressed by how the blonde did not even flinch – iron bars or not, the look on Endymion's face was positively lethal. But Mina just stood there, shaking her head in silent response as her light blue eyes darkened with determination and resistance.
Endymion's fingers gripped the iron bars tightly, his knuckles turning white from anger.
"She already gave her answer, Thracian." Malachite told him coldly. "You should better leave."
Endymion's head snapped to where Malachite was still standing, his murderous gaze now focused on the other gladiator.
"It is not your business, Celt!" Endymion barked.
If Malachite had been any other man, he would have shrunk back a little due to the indignant fury that blazed in the Thracian's eyes. But Malachite was no other man. He was the undefeated Celt, so he stood proudly before Endymion, his eyes glistering darkly back at him.
"It is if I choose it to be." Malachite shot back. "And if she doesn't want to talk to you, you should better leave her be or I will make sure to end your life before Theokoles has the chance to."
Endymion couldn't do more than snort at that.
"And face the Shadow alone?" Endymion chuckled.
"As I always stand!" Malachite retorted coldly.
"This time you do not!"
Malachite wore an evil smirk on his face as he shook his head.
"You will not survive a single moment against the giant." he told him. "And when Theokoles falls, the glory will be mine and mine alone."
"And if you do not come to common ground, the death shared will be yours!" Mina suddenly cut in, her shrill voice making both men flinch and turn towards her.
She had a disgusted look on her face as she looked at them.
"You talk of victory, of glory…" her blue eyes focused on Endymion. "… of forgiveness. Yet none of you deserves what he's asking for! Not as long as you refuse to accept and use the only way that might help you escape certain death."
She glared at both men who were standing speechless before her.
"Fight as one man just as Artemis has instructed." she said.
"Or die as two."
Mina left without sparing either of them another look.
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It was later that night when Endymion and Malachite were brought to the Dominus.
The moment he entered, Endymion could feel her eyes on him. His gaze met hers across the room, and his heart began to flutter uncontrollably inside his chest. He hadn't expected her to be there, was too unprepared to face her again. She was sitting on a red couch with her body slaves sitting on either side of her as if to protect her. The Greek was holding Serenity's hand, a dark look on her face as she glared at Endymion. Mina on the other hand had her arms crossed before her chest and had her body slightly turned away from Serenity. She briefly looked up, but her eyes darkened at the sight of the gladiators. She silently shook her head disapprovingly and then continued to look in the other direction. Endymion's brows drew together in confusion. It was almost as if Mina was mad – but not at him or Malachite which would have been more than understandable after her outburst earlier, but at her Domina instead.
Despite everything, his heart suddenly felt a little lighter in his chest as he realized that Serenity's eyes were no longer clouded with coldness or impassiveness when she looked at him. Her crystal blue orbs were only swimming in endless sadness. It was a look that pained him to see, but selfish as he was, he would rather see her sad than cold and aloof.
"Gladiators." Diamond addressed both men with a serious expression on his pale face, making Endymion quickly tear his eyes aware from the beauty.
"You are both blessed by the Gods. You survived more challenges than many other."
Diamond slowly circled each of them while he continued to speak.
"You survived Roman soldiers, lethal injuries, executions, legends…" he let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "And much more. You have both proven yourself worthy by wetting the arena sand with the blood of your opponents. You have honored this house by defying death and his cold hand again and again."
Diamond was now standing right in front of both men. He took his time as inspected both men, his indigo eyes narrowed as he followed the lines of bruises that had been caused by their training with Artemis.
"So tell me my Titans." the Dominus finally said as he lifted his eyes again.
"Can you survive this as well?"
Endymion and Malachite remained silent at that. Everyone inside the room had seen the fight and lose against Artemis. Everyone knew the answer to the question – but truth was not an answer to be spoken aloud.
"Artemis." Diamond somehow impatiently addressed the Doctore and motioned him to step forward. "You know them. You have trained them. You yourself have faced the Shadow of Death and have survived. So tell me: Can they survive this?"
There was a long beat of tensed silence filling the room before the green-eyes man began to speak.
"Malachite and Endymion fight at cross-purposes." Artemis said in his deep voice. "Both of them have different things in mind, different reasons to fight for. Their stubbornness prevents them from pulling together, and it seals the way to common victory."
Endymion felt how his nails dug deeply into the skin of his own hand.
"And yet…" Artemis suddenly continued, making the two gladiators to look up.
The white-haired man was looking at them through glistering green eyes, and it was the first time that Endymion saw something close to confidence shimmering in the Doctore's gaze.
"Both have a reason to fight. Be it glory or love, honor or regret. No matter what it is, it will give them both the strength to fight Theokoles, maybe even defeat him. As long as they find a way to unite their purposes and forces, not even the Gods themselves could stop them."
Diamond nodded his head in response, a pleased look appearing on his face at what Artemis had said.
He eyed both men a moment longer, before he spoke again.
"You have heard him." he told them seriously. "Fight as one and make this monster fall. Become Gods of the arena, together. And your reward will surpass any earthly rewards."
He emptied the remaining wine inside his goblet in one gulp, a happy grin on his face when he refocused on the two men before him.
"Until then…." he said happily. "Let me whet your appetite by offering you gifts for tonight."
At his command, two naked women – one with red, the other with brown hair – stepped forward and into the center of the room.
They were beautiful, with perfect skin and curves in all the right places. They both had long, glistering hair that fell over their breasts, and their green and blue eyes sparkled with lust and promises as they stared at Endymion and Malachite.
"Aren't they beautiful?" Diamond chuckled as he looked at them in awe. "They shall be my gift for you tonight. So that you can release some stress and keep in mind what else could await you if you return victorious."
Endymion's body tensed, his eyes widening in surprise at the Dominus' offer.
"You cannot be serious, brother!" Serenity's shocked voice floated through the room, making Endymion to look at her.
She has risen from the couch she had been sitting on, her face a world of confusion and anger as she glared at her brother.
Diamond let out an amused chuckle and shook his head.
"Quite serious, Serenity." he told her with a wink. "Our two gladiators deserve to spend the night in loving arms."
"You are gifting women to men as if they were mere toys!" Serenity hissed angrily.
"Oh my lovely innocent Serenity." Diamond drawled and shook his head at her. "These two women offered themselves to undertake this specific task – am right my beauties?"
The red-haired blushed a little and giggled – a sound that made Endymion immediately cringe.
"We are here to please." the red-head laughed and licked her lips, her eyes darkening as they narrowed on Endymion.
Endymion immediately tore his eyes away from her and focused on his silver-haired beauty instead. Serenity stared at the woman with shock clearly written across her face, and Endymion thought that he had also seen a spark of anger flare up behind the beauty's eyes. It almost caused a traitorous smile to appear on his face.
"I appreciate your generous offer, Dominus." he then stated firmly, his blue eyes settling onto the house's Dominus. "But I'm afraid I have to decline."
Diamond's silver brows shot up in surprise.
"And why is that, Thracian?" he asked, shaking his head.
Before Endymion could answer however, realization dawned on Diamond's face, and an amused chuckle escaped his thin lips.
"Forgiveness, Thracian." he laughed, surprising the people around him. "So it is not women's warm thighs that you prefer, but rather a handsome lad's body to play with?"
Endymion faintly heard Mina's careless snort at the Dominus' assumption, but before the Dominus could dwell on it, the Thracian quickly drew Diamond's attention back at him.
"No, Dominus." he corrected with a tight smile on his face. "It is only a woman's touch that brings me pleasure."
His eyes quickly darted to where the red-head was still standing, a hopeful expression on her pale face as he stared at her.
"Even though I prefer blondes." Endymion added coolly, causing the woman's seductive smile to immediately fall from her face.
He faintly felt Malachite glare on him, and he briefly wondered about the Celt's strange behavior.
"Well… Surely I can find a willing blonde to pay homage to you tonight." Diamond offered with a careless shrug of his shoulders.
But Endymion just shook his head anew.
"And once again I thank you for your kind offer, Dominus." Endymion said politely. "But it is not what I meant. I have thoughts of tomorrow for I have never faced an opponent like Theokoles. To be with a woman makes a man weak before battle."
Diamond raised his brows at his words and stared at Endymion for a long moment.
"It is something that I agree upon with the Thracian." Malachite suddenly said, his grey eyes hard as he spoke. "I do not wish to test the Gods of Fate by lying with a woman before the battle."
Endymion saw how Mina suddenly looked up at the other gladiator with surprise edged into her features.
"It never seemed to bother you before?" the Dominus asked with a confused shake of his head.
Malachite tensed a little before he answered.
"It does now." he said, and it was as if there was something similar to softness lying underneath his words. "The Thracian is right. Neither of us has ever faced someone like Theokoles. We will need our strength tomorrow."
Endymion could see that Diamond was far from pleased that both of them had rejected his offer. But after some more moments, he let out an almost exhausted sigh and nodded his head.
"Fine then." he agreed. "Surely there will be many more nights for you to give yourself to the well-deserved pleasure."
He then turned his back on the two men and walked out of the room.
"Bring them back to the dungeons." he ordered while leaving. "And provide them with food and water so that they are well prepared for the big fight tomorrow."
The moment Diamond had left the room, a Roman soldier was already pushing Endymion out of the room.
The young Thracian quickly turned his head to be granted at least one last glance at his beautiful Serenity. The silver-haired beauty was returning his gaze, a hint of desperateness visible on her face. Endymion couldn't help but give her a little smile in return.
If it was the last time that she would see him, he wanted her to remember not their fight from two days ago, but his smile from tonight.
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It was well in the middle of the night when the door to his cell was opened. Endymion immediately shot up from his cot, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the hooded figure that had entered.
Small, bare feet could be seen from underneath the thick cloak.
Woman's feet.
Endymion got up from his cot, his eyes darkening.
"Have I not made myself clear earlier that evening?" he growled in annoyance. "Go back and find someone else who is in need of your … assistance. I do not seek a woman's company tonight."
"Not even mine?" the soft voice sounded.
Serenity lifted the hood from her head, reveling herself to him. Her slender hands loosened the strings that were holding the cloak in place, and the thick garment fell to the ground.
Endymion stared at her in shock.
She was wearing a silken blue sleeping gown underneath – made out of material that barely covered her delicious body.
Was he still dreaming? Could it really be that the Gods had answered his desperate plea to see her only once more before he had to face certain death tomorrow?
Serenity looked nervous when Endymion would not react. He just stared at her with his eyes wide open and shocked. She swallowed hard, her self-confidence shrinking with every moment.
"I … I can also leave if you pref…"
But before she was able to end her sentence, hot lips landed upon hers. She moaned in pleasure as Endymion quickly lifted her and pressed her against the cold wall behind her. He kissed her with everything that he had – reveling in this unexpected gift by the Gods.
"I'm so sorry, Serenity." he breathed over and over again as he kissed her face and throat. "So sorry."
Serenity closed her eyes and leant her head against the cold wall, enjoying Endymion's attention. She was not entirely sure about what exactly he was apologizing for – be it for their fight or the cruel fate that had chosen for himself.
But she did not care – not now, not tonight.
She took his head in both hands and gently forced him to look at her. His midnight blue eyes were shining with pain and regret as he looked at her, a sight that made Serenity's heart warm with tenderness.
With love.
She kissed him then, a slow and gentle kiss that was so full of affection and love, it made Endymion's heart almost burst with joy.
He pushed them away from the wall and carried her to his small cot. Endymion gently put her down and followed right after, his mouth never leaving hers as they lost themselves to the most beautiful, most emotional kiss they had ever shared.
The gladiator let out a low moan when Serenity suddenly wrapped both legs around his torso and pulled him closer. He could feel her hot core through the thin fabric of his trousers, something that made him clench the fingers of his right hand to a fist of frustration.
"Serenity…" he sighed as his lips finally parted from hers, and he buried his face into her neck. His breath came in hot pants against her warm skin as he tried to control himself. But Serenity ignored his desperate plea as she let her small soft hands roam his heated body.
"Serenity." Endymion warned her again, harsher and a little bit more desperate this time.
He caught her roaming hands with his and pinned them above her head. Endymion looked down onto her beautiful face with big blue eyes and kiss-swollen lips.
The young Thracian could not help but kiss her again, with his lips gently tracing the line of neck.
"You must stop." he murmured against the softness of her skin. "Or I will not be able to control me."
"What if I don't want you to control yourself?" her whispered reply made him stop in irritation.
He lifted his head from the valley of her breasts to look at her with a shocked expression on his face.
"You… you do not know what you are saying Serenity." he whispered hoarsely while he felt his member protest painfully.
Endymion released her wrists and tried to sit up, but was immediately pulled back by the beauty's hands on his face.
"Endymion…" she breathed with determination shining in her eyes. "I know exactly what I am saying."
Endymion closed his eyes as she started to kiss his face and neck.
"Let me be yours, Endymion." she whispered against his ear, making him shudder in pleasure. "Just for one night, let me be yours."
Endymion swallowed hard, his resistance diminishing more and more as Serenity pressed her body more boldly against his straining member.
"Serenity…" he uttered her name with a shuddering breath. "I … I cannot take your innocence. It is your husband's right."
Serenity's lips stopped kissing down his neck, giving Endymion a moment to breathe. He opened his eyes to look down at her. His goddess wore an almost angry look on her face.
She pushed him away from her and stood up.
Endymion couldn't help the disappointment that shot through his veins as he sat up to look at her.
But it was the right decision, he tried to convince himself. No matter how much he wanted her, how much he needed her: it was the right decision.
For her.
"My body belongs to me, to no one else." Serenity said determinedly as she positioned herself right before him
Endymion's eyes and mouth widened as he watched how she slowly loosened the strings of her dress.
The blue silk fell to the floor.
Endymion's eyes darkened with heated desire as he looked at his goddess in all her natural beauty. Never had he seen a woman as beautiful, as perfect as her. His dark gaze slowly trailed her wonderful curves, his hunger within him growing as he noticed the slight flush that colored her creamy skin.
"It is my right to give my innocence to whoever I choose." she continued softly. "And I choose you."
Endymion finally tore his eyes away from her curves and lifted his gaze to meet her determined gaze.
A tender smile was on his face as he looked at her. The Thracian held out one hand for her to take. The moment she took it, he gently pulled her onto his lap. He let out a shuddering breath as her naked body straddled his. He couldn't help his hands from wondering up and down her soft hips and waist before he spoke.
"I am a dead man, Serenity." he whispered with a pained smile on his face. He softly cupped her face to let her see the truth of his words in his eyes. "After tomorrow, I will be nothing more than a faint memory to you. And this memory will fade in time."
Serenity leant into his touch as glistering tears ran down her face.
"You will not die." she told him in a cracked voice. "And I could never forget you, Endymion. Never."
Endymion smiled sadly at her, shaking his head.
"You will, Serenity." he breathed, his own heart breaking. "And you should."
Serenity shook her head vehemently, her eyes glistering oceans of sadness and resistance.
"How could I ever forget you?" she whispered brokenly. "How could I ever forget the man I fell in love with?"
Endymion stared at her wide-eyed for some more moments, not quite able to comprehend what she had just disclosed.
Did she mean it? Did she really love him?
A tiny voice inside his head told him to stop there, to not let her love him. It was dangerous, it was without a future. ´He should protect her from this. He should push her away – for her own sake. He was a dead man – doomed to die at Theokoles' hands.
She should not love him.
Then why was his heart quickening with joy instead of grief?
Why was he pulling her closer instead of pushing her away?
And then, he kissed her.
He kissed her with all the love and passion that he was holding in his heart for her. Serenity immediately responded to his kiss, wrapping her arms tightly around him, not wanting to ever let go. Endymion grabbed her by the waist and flipped them around. He felt her slender body underneath him, tender softness against hard muscles as he continued to kiss her deeply.
Their bodies fit perfectly together.
Two sides of a coin – different in every way possible and yet made for each other.
"Make me yours, Endymion." Serenity breathed, her dark eyes heavy-lidded and full of desire. "Please. Do not deny us this moment. Just this once, just this one night."
Endymion hesitated a moment, but when he saw the look of pure love beneath the layers of pleading, he couldn't help but nod.
That night, he touched and kissed every inch of his goddess's body, memorizing this one last moment of happiness and love with his hands and lips.
Their eyes never left when he finally entered her, moving gently to not to cause her more pain than necessary. Their movements soon increased in speed, and their gentle kisses turned heated and desperate as Endymion moved in and out of her.
More than once did he have to swallow her pleasure-filled moans and cries with his mouth, while trying to prevent his own low groans from escaping his lips. His fingers dug deeply into her porcelain skin as he lifted her bottom to have a better angle to thrust into her. His eyes were dark as he watched her wiggle and squirm in pleasure beneath him. Never had she been more beautiful than in this moment of wild arousal. Endymion's thrusts deepened as he impaled her with feverish vigor.
She was his – and he wanted her to know it, to feel it.
Endymion wanted her to remember.
Even then when he would be long gone.
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NOTES
Hey everyone!
Thank you so much for the lovely reviews :) I love reading what you think about this story!
I hope the latest chapter was to your liking!
Anyways: I hope you all enjoy the new SM Crystal episodes!
I simply love them.
Have a good week and thank you for reading this story!
J