Gladiatrix (35 page)

Scheming bastard! He knew I needed him, or there was no fight to show. I took off after him. Dive for dive.

The audience surged to their feet, squealing for violence, then followed.

Alex sprinted through the house scattering house slaves carrying food and drink as he went. Jars of wine and ornate food sculptures destroyed themselves against the walls.

He slammed out into the back garden. I was on his heels.

He headed down a tiled walkway, lined on both sides by a shoulder-high brick wall. The fucker was fast. He was hoping to out-run the audience. Then it wouldn't matter if I caught him or not.

That's what he thought!

So much for a graceful show of force … I put on an extra spurt of speed, and dived for his legs. He was fast, but I was motivated.

I caught one calf, hung on, and brought him down hard. As he slammed into the tiles, I rolled to my feet. But he was up in a flash too. And hiking up and over the dividing wall.

Bastard! Bastard! The audience lagging behind me couldn't follow if I went over it too.

Well, that left me no choice. I had to provide a doorway.

Whack.

I kicked the brick wall between us, cracking it at knee height. Another kick. Crack. Then another one.

The rectangle of bricks landed with a solid thud at his feet. Alex was too intrigued to run now. He just stood there staring down at the fallen bricks.

Now the audience could follow.

‘How did she fucking do that?' It had to be Cerebus. ‘With bare feet!'

‘Excellent! Plautius just left,' said Domitia, ‘and he's going to convince Augustus to put you in the battle. The initiation is yours tomorrow.'

Behind us, servants scurried backwards and forwards under Horace's bemused direction cleaning up the havoc Alex and I had created. The guests had filed back inside, ready for more wine and the main meal of roast boar. Appetites sharpened by all the action.

‘Great.' I turned to go.

Okay, I had what I wanted, but the mere thought of going through the ritual just scared the stuffing out of me. All I could think of now was Felix. I had to find him, and see if he had any news about Lucius.

‘Stop.' Hawk-like, Domitia hooked my forearm with her pointed nails. ‘Plautius was so impressed, he's invited you to the feast he's giving tonight. It's for the Ludi. We have to get you both ready to go. It's already started.'

‘Ah.' I dithered. A feast? No-one had mentioned any feast?

Domitia was waiting, brows firmly furrowed at my distinct lack of ‘jump to it' attitude.

I remembered my place. ‘Yes, of course, my lady. But first I have to find one of the gladiators.' I peered behind her, preoccupied. ‘Er, the one called Felix.' I hadn't seen him in the audience, but he'd said he'd be here.

She dismissed my hesitation, ‘The Ludi men have already left, you can see them all at the feast. But now,' she spoke with too much vigour for my peace of mind. ‘We have to get you dressed.'

Domitia tried a variety of means to force me into wearing what amounted to see-through lingerie. When threatening had no effect, she actually demanded the loyalty she felt I owed her.

But I was not in the mood for any more crap. There was a good chance that I could die tomorrow, and as the feast was just another part of the process leading me to that confrontation, I didn't feel like compromising. So I wore the same outfit I arrived in — the red Egyptian sheath and accessories.

By the time I was fully dressed, wig, make-up and weapons, Domitia had changed her mind. It had been a good choice after all. I was supposed to be playing Cleopatra, wasn't I?

There was a difficult silence as Alex and I stood outside in our cloaks, waiting for Domitia's chairmen to arrive. We hadn't exchanged even a glance since the chase.

Domitia had insisted that he come with me, and I'd grudgingly agreed. He was dressed in a borrowed black silk tunic, with black sandals and wristbands. The colour suited him. Made him look dark and dangerous. But then of course he'd looked like that anyway.

I couldn't look at him. He'd tried to sabotage me.

So we stayed silent all the way to the hall, near the amphitheatre. The glances I'd taken at him walking beside my chair showed he wasn't sorry. Not in the least. His expression was more disgust that I'd outwitted him, rather than anything resembling remorse. I wanted to hit him!

The Ludi hall was bursting with lights, noise and a ragged margin of drunken guests, who'd overflowed onto the surrounding streets. Not all of them were vertical.

How long was this all going to take? Plautius may have requested my presence, but I was really only here to find Felix. Had he located Lucius? Was Lucius still alive, and in Rome?

Surely Felix had answers for me by now?

I stood in the entranceway searching for him, but it was just too crowded. It looked like the whole Ludi was present, plus about another two hundred people I didn't know. And everyone was very, very drunk. Most already lay sprawled in groups across the wide triclinium lounges scattered throughout the hall. Next to each triclinium stood a table groaning with food and drink. Scantily dressed female slaves moved through the crowd carrying flasks of wine. In the middle of the room was a raised, round podium. On top of it a team of four female dancers performed a coordinated strip to Middle Eastern-sounding music produced by a pair of drummers and a flute player.

Out of nowhere Cerebus appeared — wearing a lot less than normal, and grinning broadly. Looking down I could see more of Cerebus' horrible scars than I was really comfortable with. No wonder he had such a bad temper.

Cerebus said with a great deal of appreciation, ‘You were a fucking great blonde, love, but there's just something so frigging sexy about a black-haired Egyptian bird. I could just fall into those big black eyes of yours.'

He gave me one more leer, and then snapped his chunky fingers. A servant immediately appeared to take our cloaks.

‘Alexander, you'll have your work cut out tonight …' Cerebus ran his eyes up and down my red sheath, ‘keeping track of our Cleopatra here. A lot of the boys have been waiting for 'er to arrive.'

‘Tell them to forget it, Cerebus.' Alex moved in front of me. ‘She's going to be fully occupied. All night.' He loomed over the much shorter man.

It felt kind of strange. Usually I was the one doing the intimidating.

Cerebus also looked slightly thunderstruck, then started to chuckle. ‘Well fuck you too, Alexander. So that's the way it is?'

He glanced over at me. ‘Alexander was the heart-throb of the ring until Domitia bought 'im. Even worse than Felix. 'is frigging fans would sleep outside the stadium to get the best seats on the days that 'e fought. D'ya know that?'

‘No?'

Alex was bored. ‘Cut it out, Cerebus.'

Cerebus just ignored him. ‘Yeah, half of Rome used to yell out Alexander's name at each fight. And it wasn't just for his sporting prowess either. Lot of opportunities came 'is way. Didn't fucking take them. 'e's been very picky the old Alexander has.' He leant past Alex to say, ‘But you know — I think 'e likes you.'

‘Yes, and it's a pity that lion didn't swallow instead
of spit when he had you,' said Alex. ‘Just remember what I said, leave her alone tonight.'

Cerebus gave him a shrewd glance. ‘Yeah? Well I saw that play tonight, my lad, and I'm not sure we're the ones she needs protection from.'

At that point I said, ‘Why don't we just all sit down?'

Cerebus answered by clapping his hands for attention. Then shouted out, ‘Lads. The new Queen of the Nile has arrived.'

Like a wave everyone turned their heads towards us. The front rows held a few faces I recognised, they were retiarii. Friends of Alex and Dimitri. As soon as they saw me they stumbled to their feet, chanting, ‘Bellona, Bellona.' The rest of the hall took it up.

Satisfied he'd done his part, Cerebus told a servant to take us to our couch near the podium. He said he wanted us to have a good view. More likely he wanted everyone else to have a good view.

As we followed the servant through the chanting crowd, Alex came in for his own share of attention as well. A red-haired woman grabbed his leg as he moved past her couch. She tried to lift up the front of his tunic. He firmly, but gently pulled away. She refused to release him. As he moved, she hung on and was pulled off her couch. She tumbled shrieking to the floor, but still refused to let go. As Alex came to a confused halt, she resumed her mauling, running her red-tipped fingers over his groin and thighs. And purring.

I ground my teeth.

As a slave, Alex couldn't do what he needed to get free.

Reaching forward, I roughly smacked the redhead's roaming hands off him, and shoved her backwards. Then I drew Alex into my arms.

When I faced her, she shrank back even further, skittering across the floor to get away from me. The chanting stopped abruptly, as everyone listened.

Holding Alex tightly to me, I glared at the woman, and then challenged the entire hall. ‘No-one touches Alex but me.'

They cheered, delighted with the fierce display.

When I scanned Alex's face, now so near my own, his eyes were hot. Intense. He was deeply pleased.

Bastard. I dropped my arms.

The servant showed us to our assigned lounge. It was massive. And covered in cushions ornamented with erotic tableaux. Just in case you forget how. I reclined across one side, pushing two cushions majoring in oral sex behind my back. At least they were better than the ones specialising in bestiality.

I gave the hall another once-over, but still no sign of Felix.

Alex stood at attention next to my side of the lounge. I stared straight ahead, watching the four striptease artists reach their bottom line.

‘It's suicide, and you know it.'

‘Is that your idea of an apology?'

‘Girl, I'm not apologising for trying to save your life.'

‘Fuck you.'

Silence.

Alex shifted on his feet. ‘Felix had better get himself here soon and bring good news.'

Silence.

‘See those two men over there.' Alex jerked his head towards a lounge just across from us. A man with an oily, sweaty face and his pal, a thin pale type, were eyeing us with a little too much enthusiasm.

‘Yeah.'

‘They're the Ludi physicians.'

‘So?'

‘If you keep on looking bored and single then they're just drunk enough, and stupid enough, to come over here and …'

‘Okay. You can sit down.' He was right, but he was also pushing it, too.

Alex didn't need another offer. He stretched out next to me, vetting the cushions as he did. The ones depicting bestiality got booted off the end of the lounge.

‘What, don't like animals?'

‘Not that much.'

Silence.

The two men rose to their feet. I shuffled closer to Alex, and he shot an arm around my shoulders.

‘Don't think I've forgiven you.'

‘You've got nothing to forgive! If you can't …'

Then Felix arrived. He stood over us smiling and nodding. ‘And what do we have here?'

I grabbed the front of his tunic and dragged him down onto the couch with us. ‘What happened?' I growled. Alex leant in, and we formed a huddle.

Felix looked around then quietly said, ‘I found Lucius.'

Sweet Jesus! ‘And?'

‘He needs money. Lots of it. At least one hundred aurei to get safely out of Rome and away. He said he'll do anything you want, if you pay him.'

‘I can do that.' There was more than enough back at the apartment.

‘But can you get the money tonight? He's not sticking around.'

‘Yes.' I nodded. ‘I can.'

‘Good. He's agreed to meet you after the feast. When you've picked up the money, I'll take you to him.'

Ohhhh. Relief. ‘Did he talk about Victoria …?'

Felix jumped in, ‘Is she tall? Dark hair and eyes? Strange accent, just like you …'

I nodded, too big a lump in my throat to speak.

‘Then Fabius is holding her prisoner.'

‘She's still alive?'

‘Lucius can tell you where she's being held.'

I muttered, ‘You mean I could find her tonight?' Oh my God.

Alex started laughing.

Suddenly all the sleepless nights caught up with me at once. I collapsed back on the couch. Boneless. There were pink nudes hovering above me on the ceiling.

I started to laugh. I could see her tonight.

Two male faces appeared over me. One from either side, blocking my view of the ceiling. Alex was laughing at my dopey expression. Felix asked him, ‘Good news, huh?'

Alex said, looking down, ‘Yes, she was running out of options. This may have saved her life. As well as Victoria's.'

Suddenly life felt wonderful. I smiled up at them both. They looked at each other with eyebrows raised.

‘You think she wants to celebrate?' asked Felix.

‘Yeah, 'fraid so,' replied Alex.

A cup of wine appeared in my line of sight.

I sat up. They both shoved more cushions behind me. Pampering me. I liked it.

We raised our cups. Alex gave a long and obscene toast. Criticising the size and prowess of samnite swordsmen. And praising the same qualities of the retiarii. We clinked cups and drank.

Felix gave a toast of his own, which lost me after the first two minutes. But seemed to be generally about the ugliness of Ludi trainers. And the promiscuity of their mothers. We clinked cups, and drank again.

When it was my turn, I gave a toast to the smell of eucalyptus trees. The joys of surfing. And the search for the perfect set of waves. Homesick or what?

They didn't understand the surfing references, so I tried to explain.

Felix asked, ‘You really get up on a piece of wood, and ride the water?'

‘Back in my country, a lot of people do. Well, my age, or younger.'

Felix flicked some wine at Alex. ‘So this baby here would be a surfer too?'

Alex flicked some back. ‘Yes, old man, you wouldn't be cold enough.'

‘No! The word is “cool”. I said it's a cool thing to do.' Then I giggled. That felt strange …

‘Makes sense,' said Felix. ‘I suppose Egyptians would think being cool is good. But it gets pretty hot in Rome too.' At that he looked around the hall.

Things were livening up. Most of the women had lost at least their upper clothing, if not all. And a foursome on the next couch was beginning to resemble a tag team wrestling bout.

Up on the centre podium a comedian wearing an enormous phallus strapped to his front was telling jokes. All of which seemed to centre on vestal virgins, priests and the stupidity of the Celts.

The comic wiggled his hips at each punchline. Bah boom.

‘Well, it's time I gave Lucius your answer. Then I'll come back here, and pick you up.' Felix rolled to his feet and headed off towards the front of the hall.

As soon as he left, the two Ludi physicians who'd been leering at me before rose to their feet and ambled unsteadily towards us. Alex took one look at them, and snorted in disgust, ‘Here come the boys.'

‘Maybe we could just hold each other. I need to work out what to do when we meet Lucius, so let's talk strategy?'

Alex moved closer, but this time I pulled him into my arms.

The two men stood over us. They kept trying to get my attention by making suggestions about what two men could do better than just one. Ignoring them was easy for me, but they were getting to Alex. When one of them offered to show me his equipment, so I could judge what was on offer, Alex sat up.