Chapter 22
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He heard the whispers, the muttering from behind him. He knew that if he turned around, he would face an ocean of confusion. But he would not look around – too focused were his brown eyes on the scene right in front of him.
Something he had never seen before.
Beautiful, he thought.
The despair that was lingering in the warm night air. The smell of blood and death that mingled with the smoke from the torches nearby.
The full moon was hanging low in the clear night sky, dipping the surrounding into a softer shade – illuminating the dead, garbled bodies with a softness that was so unfitting. So unreal.
So beautiful.
His brows creased with some irritation as he watched how the Thracian's facial expression morphed from determination to confusion to whatever the little beauty had voiced to him. It was not more than a millisecond when Alan realized her intent.
A chuckle left his mouth – a sound that soon developed to a loud and hearty laugh that filled the silent night air. The murmur behind him stopped, all eyes now focused on him.
He continued to laugh as he stood.
"What an interesting turn of events we have tonight!" his strong voice sounded.
He whirled around to face the audience, his followers, and spread his arms wide.
"Who would have thought our little games would come to this?!" he laughed and shook his head.
He turned around to look at Serenity and Endymion who were standing in the middle of the natural arena, both bodies pressed together while Endymion still held his sword high. There were beads of sweat on his forehead, Alan realized, the Thracian barely able to keep conscious due to his still healing injuries. But apparently determined to muster all of his power to stay conscious, to fight whenever he needed to… whoever he needed to.
A smirk was on his face as he slowly approached the duo. His eyes quickly moved to Nephrite and Malachite who were standing next to Serenity and Endymion, both eager to protect both of them.
Alan let out a contemptuous chuckle at the sight. With a quick nod of his head, six of his followers appeared from the shadows. It was no real effort for them to overpower both former gladiators. Screams were heard, curses – but in the end, both Malachite and Nephrite were pummeled to the ground, held down by several men.
Alan's gaze flickered to the audience. Men and women alike watched the scene unfold with curiosity and confusion – their hunger for revenge and blood disrupted by this unforeseen turn of events.
He revolt's leader's gaze settled back onto where Serenity and Endymion were standing and he realized how Endymion mustered all of his strength to pull the beauty closer to his body.
"My loyal followers…" Alan shouted out loud without taking his eyes off the pair. "Some might not recognize our unexpected guest – though all of you have heard of him!"
He stretched out on arm towards Endymion, a pearly smile on his face as he continued.
"I present you Endymion – Champion of Capua!"
The murmur immediately started anew.
"Endymion, Roman lapdog!" a female voice sounded proudly over the voices, making the arena fall silent in an instance.
Out of the corners of his eyes, Alan saw how his sister stepped forward, her chin held high in defiance and her burning eyes focused on the Thracian.
"Break your chains and color your sword with the blood of this Roman slut. Join the rows of your brothers and sisters to fight with us against our oppressors."
Alan watched as Endymion's blue eyes went almost black as they narrowed at Anne, glaring at her with a hatred Alan had barely seen before.
"It is your blood and the blood of everyone that will wet the ground…" Endymion replied through clenched teeth while his chest heaved rapidly from anger and strain. "… should anyone ever dare and touch her again!"
Alan could feel the anger rise within his sister, heard the anger emerge from the crowd, and he held out one arm to stop her from attacking the duo just then and there.
"My dear sister…" Alan laughed good-heartedly. "Is your thirst for revenge so far gone that it's blinding your sight?"
"Can't you see it my dear brothers and sisters?" he called out to the crowd. "Our Champion from Capua has fallen for his captor. A wolf in the arena, but nothing but a pathetic puppy when the treat is right."
Endymion narrowed his eyes at him, his blue eyes dark from anger.
"You know nothing." the Thracian growled through gritted teeth.
Another chuckle filled the night air as Alan crossed his arms before his chest while he arched one brow to meet Endymion's heated gaze with a triumphant expression on his own face.
"Is that so?" he challenged lightly. "Well believe me, Champion, I do see the allure of the little Roman Domina and I understand how her spell can make even the strongest and most determined of us bend their knee to her will."
He let out a dramatic sigh then, and shrugged his shoulders.
"A shame really, to see her die tonight."
"You will… you will not touch her!" Endymion pressed out, his voice wavering just a little as his body swayed from the left to the right.
The triumphant smirk on Alan's face broadened.
"Aah… the beauty of despair. And yet, it will not be me or any of my followers who is going to kill her tonight. Isn't that right my little Domina?"
Serenity's silver-blue eyes went wide, and her mouth opened in a silent gasp.
"What… what are you talking about?!" Endymion shouted, his breath coming in short, hot pants.
"Oh?" Alan spoke with mock surprise. "Did you not detect the little dagger that our little beauty has been so desperately clinging to while we had our little conversation? No doubt ready to stab herself in the right moment. Why would she do that, I wonder?"
Alan watched with growing satisfaction as realization dawned on the Thracian's face. The anger and determination on Endymion's face mingled with utter disbelief as his head turned to look down at the beauty that clung to his body. His brows shot up in surprise as he detected the glittering silvery object Serenity held in her right hand, and that she desperately tried to quickly hide behind her back.
"Sere?" Endymion whispered with growing horror on his face as he slowly understood Serenity's intent.
She looked up at him with eyes full of tears and desperation.
"Not again" the silver-haired beauty repeated the words she had whispered only moments before while shaking her head vehemently. "Not again."
Sweat glistered like raindrops on Endymion's forehead, and his hand tightened painfully around Serenity's waist.
"No" he panted. "I will not allow it.. I .. aah."
A stinging sensation from his wounds made his body wince with pain.
"Endymion!" Serenity called out in panic and wrapped her arms more tightly around her lover's body to give him support. She tried to catch his gaze, and realized how his deep blue eyes grew unfocused.
"Serenity.. you will not …" Endymion panted while trying to muster all of his strength and power to stay conscious. "You will not do this"
Serenity cried out as Endymion suddenly collapsed onto his knees. Out of instinct, she let the dagger in her hand drop to the sands as she followed Endymion to the ground to hold him upright. She felt something warm and wet where her fingers had touched his back. Her eyes grew even wider as saw the crimson color on her fingers tips, realizing that Endymion's wounds had opened again.
"It seems our Champion has not yet recovered from his wounds that the House of Tadius has inflicted on him." Alan chuckled as he watched the scene with great amusement. "Makes it less fun to kill him, but definitely easier."
Serenity wrapped her arms protectively around Endymion and pressed his sweat-stained head against her breast. She lifted her eyes and glared and Alan who was standing only few feet away from her.
"Tend to him!" she commanded with all of the authority of a Domina.
A brief flicker of irritation crossed Alan's face before it once again morphed to a smug expression.
"How DARE you?!" Anne cried out in anger. "We don't follow your filthy orders, Roman slut!"
"Although blunt in her choice of words, my sister is right." Alan agreed with a smile that did not reach his dark brown eyes. "You are not in a position to give orders, my little Domina."
She felt Endymion's body grow weaker under her touch. Her gaze flickered to his face, seeing how his eyes fluttered close and open.
"It's my life that you want, my blood!" she cried out, tears now streaming down freely from his face. "Torture me, kill me! Do whatever you want with me! Just…"
She shook her head in desperation, and a sob escaped her lips.
"Just help him."
Her tear-filled eyes met Alan's over the small distance between them.
"Please!" she whispered. "I beg you."
The smile on Alan's face vanished as he stared at her. He saw how her small arms pressed Endymion more determinedly against her chest, how her fragile body trembled as he mustered all of her power to keep him upright. A weak moan pierced the silence, the Thracian's body moved as if he wanted to stand up again. But Serenity would not let him. She cradled his face with both hands while her gaze was determinedly focused on Alan.
"You would give your life for him?" someone behind him said.
Out of the corners of his eyes, he saw how Haruka stepped forward.
"For a slave?"
There was not even a second of reluctance when Serenity gave a sharp nod in response. Her eyes then focused back on where Alan was standing.
"I would even live for him." she said, the message behind her words solely for Alan to understand.
This was it. This is what he had been dreaming about since he had first met her. To have her bend her knee before him, to have her and do to her whatever he pleased. He could have her. Now.
"You would not resist?" he heard himself ask.
She shook her head.
"No."
An angry growl suddenly filled the arena.
"Enough of this!" Anne hissed.
She drew her dagger from her waistband and approached Endymion and Serenity with furious steps. But a hand suddenly encircled her wrist, holding her back. Anne turned her head, her face a world of confusion, as her angry eyes met her brother's cool gaze.
"No." he simply said and shook his head.
"This has gone long enough, Alan!" Anne hissed heatedly. "Let me kill her already! Let me cut out her treacherous tongue and spill her blood! And we can finally end this evening! This is getting boring!"
"I said no." Alan repeated, his tone and gaze dark as he tightened his hold around her wrist.
Anne let out a small pained cry before she forcefully wrenched her hand from his tight grasp.
"You want her?! Is that it?!" she snarled as liquid fire danced furiously in her almond eyes. "You cannot be serious."
Alan lifted his chin high in defiance, but remained silent.
Anne stared at him for a moment longer before she let out an angry snort and turned towards the crowd.
"You may be our leader, dear brother." she called out as she addressed the silent audience. "But this is a decision that should be taken by all of us."
She dramatically pointed her dagger towards where Serenity and Endymion were still crouching.
"This is a Domina from Rome!" she spat the title with all of her hatred from within. "She stands for everything we have been fighting against for the past months. She is the symbol of everything we hate!"
Serenity felt the resentful gazes hot on her skin, could feel the waves of anger that was thrown her way. She dared to tear her eyes away from Endymion in her arms to face the mass of unfamiliar faces that were staring down at her.
"She has been holding the whip for too long my brothers and sisters!" Anne continued with malice dripping from every word she said. "But the era of the Great Roman Empire has ended! It's our time to take the whip and punish our former oppressors! We will take revenge for our fallen brothers and sisters, for every mother, father…CHILD that fell victim to HER greed and lust for blood!"
Faceless voices of agreement were heard, foreign words of hatred and anger that filled the warm night air.
Haruka gritted her teeth as she listened to Anne's hateful speech. She gazed at the Roman Domina who knelt on the blood-soaked dirty floor, the barely conscious Thracian tightly in her arms. She could see the fear, the desperation, the pain in her eyes – but also the burning determination to sacrifice whatever it took to rescue the man in her arms. The little Domina did not look away, she was strong – stronger than Haruka had ever believed her to be – and she was facing the crowd of hateful faces with all of the strength she was apparently able to muster.
Her head then turned to where Alan was standing. He had his arms crossed before his chest, his dark eyes now fixed upon his sister as he listened to her. He did not seem pleased about this turn of events, but did not make the impression as if he wanted to interfere.
"HER greed and lust for blood?" Haruka suddenly heard herself repeating in a firm voice that echoed from the high stony walls. Anne whirled around to face her, her almond eyes suspiciously narrowed to dangerous slits. The blonde ignored her and faced the audience instead.
"You talk about her as if she were a monster, Anne! You condemn one single woman for the crimes of an entire empire!"
Anne's fingers tightened around her dagger.
"She is Roman scum!" Anne hissed. "She schemes, betrays, murders! She's a Roman Domina! She is a threat!"
Without looking at the couple, the blonde pointed one hand at Serenity and Endymion behind her.
"Look at her!" Haruka demanded as she faced the crowd anew. "A Roman Domina, holding one of us in her arms, protecting him with her life!"
She realized how the rebels exchanged uncertain glances, and how the furiousness on their faces made way to confusion.
"And look at them!" Haruka continued as she pointed at where Malachite and Nephrite were being held captive by some rebels. "Even though it meant certain death, they came to her rescue! Tell me, how bad has she indeed treated them for them to now be willing to risk their lives for her?!"
Murmur filled the arena, the rebels whispering heatedly with each other. For the shortest of moments, Haruka caught Alan's gaze. He was staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face, but said nothing.
"You always had a soft heart, Haruka!" Anne spat. "It was too easy for her to bewitch you!"
Haruka couldn't help but chuckle at her words.
"Magic is it now, Anne?" she challenged lightly. "Is this all you've got?"
Anne ignored her and turned towards the audience.
"How many of you have met Romans like her?!" she called out. "Alluring and kind on first sight. Romans who you thought you could trust but who let you down in the end? And why was that? Remember! All Romans are liars! They scheme and lure you in, only to betray you to save their own life! Open your eyes, brothers and sisters! Do not fall prey to her innocent appearance and the show she is putting on! I say let us spill her Roman blood and avenge the suffering all of us had and still have to endure under the Roman reign!"
Some shouted and nodded furiously, but most of the people facing the arena floor still wore uncertain expressions on their faces.
"Spill as much blood as you want – but you will not find any Roman blood tonight to soak your soil, rebels!" a strong voice boomed.
Heads turned to where the voice had been coming from. The ghost of a smile appeared on Serenity's face, and a whisper of his name tumbled from her lips, as she watched Artemis emerge from the crowd. He was followed by Luna, and Serenity's heart leaped with joy that they were fine and unharmed.
"Artemis" Alan addressed him, and he immediately held up his hand to motion some of the rebels to let the former Doctore pass. "Care to elaborate?"
"Alan!" Anne hissed, her normally beautiful face now contorted with rage. "You lend your ear no just another Roman lapdog?!"
With the speed of a cat, Alan grabbed his sister by the arm and squeezed hard until she let out a pained gasp. He bent down until his lips were close to her ear as he whispered: "I advise you shut your pretty mouth for once, sister mine!" he growled into her ear while tightening his grip even further. "Do not defy me again and question my authority in front of our group. Or you will find yourself departed from this pretty little tongue of yours. Sister or not."
He then let go of her and Anne stumbled some feet back, holding her bruised arm with the other hand. Se glared at him, her almond eyes dancing with liquid fire. Alan just gave her one final glance of warning before he turned his attention back to Artemis.
The Doctore was now standing protectively in front of Serenity and Endymion. He was unarmed, but stood proud with all the might of a former Champion of Capua.
"Well?" Alan spoke with an urgency that betrayed the sound of boredom he had intended to display.
Artemis watched the people around him intently. He had not spent much time with the rebels, but from what he had observed when the leader's sister and the blonde warrior had spoken, he realized where the rebels' true power lay. And it was not Alan. He smirked a little to himself. These rebels were not so different from the people from Rome. In the end, the true power was with the crowd. Win their favor, and see your desires be fulfilled.
That's why instead of addressing Alan, he purposely turned around to face the audience instead.
"My name is Artemis" he spoke. "Man from the North, warrior, fighter, gladiator. Doctore."
He realized with growing satisfaction how the recognized his name and face.
"It is true, I served the House of Tadius until it fell some days ago." he continued. "Since I was captured and enslaved so many moons ago, I was forced to serve many Dominae – always forced to prove my worth. I lost my family and many friends I held dear. My saw them being beaten to death by their oppressors, I saw them tortured and killed for small deeds – or no deed at all."
He stopped there, his eyes losing focus for a moment as the ghosts of his past hunted him with dreadful memories.
"When Tiberius bought me for his Ludus, my heart was filled with hatred for the Roman Empire. But this time was different. Though ambitious, he was kind-hearted and treated everyone with respect – no matter heritage or status. He gave me my freedom, and I chose to stay with him and his family as a free man."
"Why did you stay?" he heard Haruka ask, her brows knitted as she followed his story.
"I wanted to give the Ludus' gladiators their best chance in the arena – so I decided to stay as the House's Doctore. But this was not the only reason. I stayed because I have become part of their family. And I vowed to protect them until the very end."
He glanced back to where Serenity was sitting.
"Even though I've failed to protect everyone except for one." he said sadly.
"Romans are experts in winning your trust and give you the feeling that you are special to them." Anne spat in disgust and a hint of hurt in her voice. "But these are just empty promises, empty words. In the end, he was kind to you because you won for him in the arena. And after, because you worked for him in his Ludus. This is all we are to them. Means to make more money to guarantee their own worth in the empire!"
"Tiberius was different." Artemis insisted with a strong voice.
"They never are!" Anne shouted.
Artemis shook his head anew.
"Tell me, rebels!" he addressed them. "How many Romans do you know who have taken care of children from the so-called savage land and raised them as their own?"
He then turned to where Anne was standing.
"Believe me. He was different."
"What do you mean by that?" Alan barked, the smug expression now completely gone from his face.
Artemis turned around and watched him with cool eyes. The revolt's leader had his hands balled to fists on either side of his body, his mouth set to a grim line as his intent gaze was solely fixed on the Doctore. Artemis felt every pair of eyes on him, the air around him almost suffocating as the suspension lingered.
He couldn't help the triumphant smirk as he caught Anne's fierce gaze.
"There is not even a single drop of Roman blood in her body." Artemis said after a pregnant pause, stressing each word carefully as he once again focused on the faceless crowd. "She is not a Roman! She is one of us!"
The uproar started immediately. People sprang from their seats, throwing foreign angry words at Artemis. Others shook their heads in disbelief while arguing with the ones next to them.
"Liar!" Anne seethed. "Just another trick to save the bloody Roman!"
"It's not a lie!" Artemis shouted over the noise of the crowd. "It's NOT a lie!"
His sparkling green eyes narrowed in anger at the words some of the rebels shouted.
"Look at her!" he demanded in a strong voice that carried over the tumult. "How many Romans have you ever seen with silvery hair? A trademark – for sure – but not for Romans but for a tribe from Germania!"
Some of the shouting ceased, all eyes now on Serenity.
"I was there! I was there when Tiberius brought home two little children from the North that he had rescued from certain death after a Roman commander had overrun their tribe. I was there when he fed them back to life, gave them names and cherished and loved them as if they were his own! If you are killing her tonight, you are killing one of you!"
Silence filled the void.
"One of us?" a voice sounded from the crowd.
Serenity saw how a woman appeared. A woman with long, black hair and dangerously sparking indigo eyes.
"One of us, you say?!" she repeated, her voice quivering.
Serenity faintly realized how Jedeite tried to hold the woman back, but she easily broke free from his grasp. As the dark-haired woman came nearer, Serenity recognized her face. She had seen the woman before. It was the woman who had tried to kill her during the rebels' attack.
"Take your filthy Roman hands from him, Roman scum!" the woman spat venomously. Out of instinct, Serenity tightened her hold around Endymion's unconscious body.
The woman drew a glistering dagger from her waistband, her eyes alive with fire.
"I said take your hands from him!"
"Stop her!" Alan commanded, but the woman just quickened her step in response.
Artemis, still unarmed, brought the strong frame between the furious woman and Serenity, his body tensing in anticipation like a cat, ready to strike in the right moment.
Before she could reach him, though, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, successfully caging her.
"LET ME GO!" the woman cried out, but Jadeite held her tight and squeezed until her dagger fell to the ground. Haruka immediately moved forward and grabbed it.
"Don't, Raye." Jadeite whispered, pleaded into her ear. "You are making a mistake."
"But she's right!" Anne came to her help. "This woman…" she pointed at Serenity. "She is not one of us. Roman blood or not, she was raised Roman, she lived as a Roman. This makes her a Roman. It does not matter where she comes from!"
"She never treated any of us less than one of hers." Jadeite shouted, earning a heated glare from the black-haired woman who was still caged in his arms. "She was not truly raised a Roman. She spent most of her time at the Temple of Selene and was raised under the care of the Moon Goddess herself."
"A priestess" people whispered in awe. "A child of the moon"
"It's true!" Artemis agreed, sensing the chance that had just occurred. "She left the Ludus as a young girl together with two slave-girls she now calls sisters to learn from the High Priestess Luna. She only returned to Capua when Tiberius feared for her life at the temple due to the slave revolt."
"A servant to the Roman Gods!" Raye hissed. "False deities that only serve Rome's purpose!"
"We might call them by different names, but the holy deities do not care about how we name them!" Nephrite spoke, the strong Greek still held back by no less than three rebels. "But they do care about how we treat their emissaries. Kill a priestess and face their wrath!"
Whispers of agreement came from the crowd.
"Alan" Haruka urged in a hushed but fierce whisper. "He is right. We must not kill a priestess."
Alan cocked one brow as he looked down at his blonde follower.
"It does surprise me that you so suddenly care about the Gods, Haruka." he replied cooly. "Since when do you of all people believe in them?"
"I still don't." Haruka whispered, her green eyes sparking with resentment. "But most of your followers do. Look at them. How do you think will they react when you kill her now? A girl from the North who survived a Roman and a rebel attack. A girl other former slaves would give their life for? Look at your people's faces. They believe her blessed rather than a threat."
Alan moved his gaze away from Haruka and eyed his followers closely. She was right. Even though he detected anger and hatred in some of their faces, most of them were staring with fascination and plain curiosity at the former Domina.
"Let her and her companions live and join our cause." Haruka continued. "And besides, having been raised as a Roman might give us some advantage in the fights to come. She knows the empire better than us – knows the important people we have yet to slay. She could become the important chess piece in our revolt. But you need to show mercy now."
"STOP IT!" Serenity suddenly called out, her silvery eyes glistering with tears.
"I can never truly understand what the Roman Empire has done to you!" she addressed the silent audience while a sob escaped her lips. "But I do know how it feels to lose someone you love by through the hands of others! If it is justice that you want, I am ready to give my blood for it – Roman or not. But…"
Her gaze moved to Endymion in her arms. The tears ran freely as she held him even tighter, as if her mere embrace were able to take away his injuries, the pain he was in.
"But he has nothing to do with it!" she shouted and cried. "None of them have! Kill me if you need to, take the revenge that you desire. Just help him!"
She shut her eyes tightly and pressed her cheek against Endymion's burning forehead.
"Please" she whispered, to the people around her or the Gods, she didn't know… neither did she care.
A blanket of silence covered the stony arena. The stars shone brightly down at them, painting the surrounding with a silver glow.
She felt more than heard how heavy steps approached her. She slowly looked up only to be greeted by the rebel's leader. Alan stared at her, an unreadable expression on his face. She faintly realized how the hand around the handle of his sword tightened and untightened for the smallest of moments. She closed her eyes, awaiting the unpreventable.
He knelt down before her. She felt how fingers touched her chin and made her lift her head. She opened her eyes and silvery-blue met hazelnut brown.
"It seems you are too valuable to kill." he whispered only for her to hear. "You will not die tonight."
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Take him to the healer and tend to his wounds." He called out to someone behind him. "Properly this time."
She heard people move, and felt how Endymion's body was forcefully wrenched from her grasp. She let out the slightest noise of protest, but her body was too weak to fight them. The loss of her lover's body made her tumble forward, but Alan's grip on her chin prevented her from falling over.
"You will live." Alan commanded silently, his eyes dark with determination. "You will eat and you will drink. You and your friends will pledge your allegiance to me and the revolt."
His grip tightened and his face moved closer, his lips almost touching hers.
"You will betray the great Empire. You will tell me all the little secrets from Rome." he breathed. "And you will succumb to my every wish."
His mouth then moved to her ear. She shuddered as she heard him inhale sharply.
"And should you try and flee, or end your life by your own hand, I will murder all you hold dear in the cruelest way possible."
She shied away, her eyes meeting his. His almond eyes were filled with dark promises and she knew, just knew, that he would hold on to that promise.
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She held the goblet of wine tightly with her slender fingers as she watched the sun rise, tinting the rooftops golden.
"Domina?" a girl who suddenly stood next to her addressed her.
She didn't lift her gaze from the golden rooftops. She didn't look at the slave girls. They did look all the same anyways.
"The Praetor asks if you grant him an audience."
She turned her head to meet the slave girl's expectant gaze. She really had an ordinary face, she thought.
"It's his House." she eventually sighed. "He does not need to ask for any audience."
A confused look crossed the slave-girl's face, but she eventually nodded.
"You are a guest of my House." she heard him say as he entered the room. "If you are not feeling well, I can always return a later hour"
She let out a contemptuous laugh, but kept otherwise silent.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw how he moved to stand next to her by the window.
"Are you feeling better?"
She grimaced at the concerned tone in his voice.
"I've already told you everything that I know." she said without looking at him. "Just leave me alone."
Her eyes glazed over with the shadow of past memories, losing focus.
"Let me forget." she added in a whisper. Hadn't he stood so close, he wouldn't have even heard the words.
His eyes moved away from the golden rooftops to glance at the woman next to him. He couldn't believe how different she looked now. He remembered her from happier times. The woman once a picture of seduction and self-confidence. He had never really cared about her, and he didn't now. But to see someone once so full of life and playfulness now being reduced to a picture of pure misery stung. She wore a simple dress of a dark color, lazily wrapped around her more and more thinning frame. Her once shiny greenish hair was covered by a matching palla, a black-colored mantle to hide the remains of her former beauty.
He knelt down beside her, his fingers reaching out to cover the hand that rested on her lap. She didn't react at the touch. She did not flinch at the sudden contact, she did not turn her gaze away from the city of Rome. Her fingers were cold as ice, he realized.
"I know it's difficult." he said. "I know that you long to forget. But I know that there is something else that you are not saying. I need you to help me. And I promise we will find the bastards that dared to cause you this pain, Esmeraude."
The woman's lips quirked, morphing to an ugly thin smile that did not reach her eyes.
"What for?" she replied monotonously. "They took away my home and slaughtered my family. They burnt the House to the ground and wetted the floors with Roman blood and tears. The gladiators are all gone, either killed or convinced to betray us. And Diamond…"
She stopped there. He felt how her fingers clenched and she shut her eyes tightly.
A teardrop fell onto the hand that covered hers.
"They will pay for what they did to him." He vowed, his blue eyes dark with promise. "But you need to tell me what you know. You must have overheard something. Where they are hiding, what their next steps are. Anything!"
The last part came out harsher as he had planned. Seiya pressed his lips to a thin line. Every day since she had recovered consciousness, he had tried to talk to her, to get some further information that would help him find the rebels. He had learnt that Rubeus' and Esmeraude's house had been attacked first. Esmeraude had been heavily injured by one of the rebels, but she had somehow managed to escape the massacre. Bleeding heavily, she had made her way to the House of Tadius to ask Diamond for help. But the rebels had been faster. Once she had arrived, she had to realize that they were under attack as well. Due to her wounds, Esmeraude had lost consciousness somewhere on the villa grounds, and Fortuna had been with her that night as the rebels must have thought her dead. Not realizing that there was still a spark of life within her. But he knew, just knew, that she had overheard something of importance. Any hint, any clue. Anything that would help him. With Diamond's body slave still unconscious, she was his only chance.
"We haven't found your cousin's body." he tried with urgency in his voice. "He could still be alive."
"He's dead by now." She simply replied, the tone in her voice once again without any emotion. "Just like Diamond."
Her eyes were once again fixed on Rome's glistering rooftops.
"Leave me alone." she whispered anew. "I cannot help you."
Seiya stood with force and ran a frustrated hand through his dark mane. He glared at her through dark eyes.
"The woman you once were would have wanted to take revenge!" he hissed. "She would not have let this stand! She would have helped me to find the bastards and bring them to justice!"
Esmeraude shook her head without looking at him.
"This woman died when the rebels ran their sword through him."
Seiya hit his fist hard against a wall nearby while his entire body pulsated with anger and frustration. She still wouldn't react.
He shot her one last glare before her turned to leave.
When he reached the door, however, he heard her voice.
"I hope they make her suffer for what she did to him." Esmeraude said, pure hatred now suddenly in her voice. "She never deserved his love. He was just too blind to see it."
Seiya's heart pushed painfully against his ribcage.
"Serenity?" his voice rushed. "They took her with them? She's still alive?"
Esmeraude turned, her eyes now shining with malice and hatred.
"I pray to Nemesis and Orcus every night that they have taken her by now." she hissed. "And in the most painful and cruelest way possible!"
Seiya's nostrils flared at her words.
"Don't you dare speak about her like that!" he growled.
An evil smirk spread across Esmeraude's face.
"You too have fallen for her lies, Praetor." she chuckled darkly. "You too can't see the truth, even when its ugly grimace is staring right into your face. I pray to Veritas that she will grant you with eyesight before it's too late!"
Seiya drew his brows together, his forehead wrinkled as he glared at her through burning eyes.
"Stop talking in riddles, woman!" he shouted angrily. "And tell me what you know!"
Another dark chuckle left her pale lips, and she turned back around without answering.
The black-haired man seethed with anger.
"Fine!" he spat. "If you are not willing to speak, I will find someone who will! Your lover's body slave will give me the answers that I need."
Before he was able to turn and leave, Esmeraude suddenly whirled around.
"Saphir? He's still alive?"
Seiya lifted his chin in triumph and nodded.
"You were not the only one blessed by the Gods that night."
A darkness fell over Esmeraude's face, her eyes glistering with hatred.
"Thracian scum!" she spat. "Traitor! Murderer!"
Seiya took a step forward, scanning the woman's dark face.
"Kill him!" she growled. "Kill him like he did kill his Dominus!"
Seiya's brows shot up in surprise.
"He was the one to kill Diamond?" he couldn't help the irritation rooting in his voice as he said the words out loud. He knew that Diamond and his body slave have always been close to each other. There was no way he would have killed him.
Seiya shook his head to dispel the ridiculous thoughts from his mind.
"You have gone mad." he said, his eyes cold. "He loved Diamond more than anything in the world. Even I know that. He would have rather died than kill him."
An evil smirk appeared on Esmeraude's face.
"Oh no." she whispered. "It was not Diamond that he killed."
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His body felt on fire. He didn't want to feel, he didn't want to remember. But with the pain, fragmented memories came to his mind.
He moaned. His mouth felt dry. His lips were split. There was an ache in his throat that felt like torn to pieces by an iron sword.
"He's soon waking up, Dominus." a voice cut through the numbness. "His wounds take time."
"Quicken the process, but do not let him die." another said, the voice cold and distant, but full of authority. "I need him alive "
"Seiya think of it. If what Esmeraude said is true, we should let that Thracian scum die."
"No" was the cold response. "He needs to tell me what he knows first. Then I will gladly kill him with my own hands."
Silence filled his head anew. He drifted away into the blessing of sleep and darkness.
"I letter arrived this morning, brother." was the last thing he heard. "Galaxia returns to Rome."
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I'm back! I'm so sorry for the super late update.
But I will finish this story , no matter what :) I promise to not let you wait again for so long.
Next chapter will be more Sere&Endy focused.
xx
J