Heart's Desire

Chapter 7

I was attending another gladiator event as my father had asked me to join him and Aetius' family. I begrudgingly went, as I didn't want to upset Aetius further. When I had returned to the palace after my talk with Odessa, he had threatened to tell my father that I was caught mingling with another woman. So in order to keep his mouth shut, I went. Aetius and his father were going to be joining us. They got the best seat in the house. I personally think they didn't deserve it. That they deserved to be in the box he had paid for. Paid for in blood and money.

As I was watching the events, gladiators fighting against one another, and animals, I tried to find Odessa. Her armor stood out among the others. Instead of the typical black and brown leather adorning the bottom portions, hers were a maroon color. The plume on her helmet didn't have that typical shape either. It stood up like a cockatiel's plumage. Her helmet was in the shape of a lion and the padding on her shoulders were also the head of a lion. The others were the normal armor for a gladiator.

The events were finishing up and I was disappointed. Odessa wasn't even here. People were beginning to file out of the Colosseum and my father and Aetuis' father talked to one another. Aetius tried to talk to me, but I stood up and made my way down to the gladiator's quarters. The stench of blood and sweat was sent through my nose, causing me to almost gag. And the sight was enough to make me want to turn around. But I needed to see if Odessa was here or not. I needed to get answers from her.

She wasn't here. Figured. I ran out of the Colosseum and towards her neighborhood. I passed by the same houses from last night and stopped in front of one. The one Odessa had stopped at. I stepped towards the door and raised my hand. About to knock, the door opened up and Odessa was standing inside the house.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"You weren't at the Colosseum," I said.

"I didn't want to go."

"Why? All gladiators are supposed to be there."

"I know. Unless we physically cannot lift our weapon."

"And I know damn well you still can."

"Or if you misplaced your weapon."

"That's bullshit. I know damn well that they provide you a weapon if you lose yours."

"They do and they don't. They only do that for training and sparring purposes. In an actual event, they cannot do that."

"Why's that?"

"Liability of sabotage."

"Good point," I said.

"What is it?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Come in."

I stepped inside the quaint little home. I don't know how she didn't have neck problems as she literally had to bend her head to the side.

"Why don't you move into a bigger house? Your father was given that option as a gladiator."

"Him and my mom bought this house when they first got together. They didn't want to move out, despite there being a lot of us."

"A lot of you?"

"I had five other siblings. Unfortunately, two of them died young and then my father died."

"So it was just you, two other siblings, and your mom?"

"Yep."

We both sat down and she was finally able to relax her neck.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"You're hiding something from me."

"I don't trust you enough to give you a lot of details about myself."

"Fair."

"So why would I tell you anything when you haven't asked for it?"

"Also true. Anyway, last night, when you came into your house, I heard kids laughing and screaming. I also saw you and someone else. Well, I didn't really see the other person. I just saw their shadow."

"And?"

"Is that what you're hiding from me?"

"What?"

"That you have a family?"

Odessa stared at me for a second before she threw her head back, letting out a hearty laugh. Her laughter continued until it finally ceased a few minutes later. She reached up and wiped some tears from her eyes, her face red.

"You should be a comedian."

"W-Why?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Who do you think I live with?" she asked.

"Your significant other and your kids."

"Where do you think my mom and siblings live?"

I sat there, my eyes narrowing before widening.

"Oh fuck," I whispered.

She smiled, "Those were my siblings and that was my mom."

"I am so sorry," I said, my cheeks warming.

"It's alright. May I ask why?"

"Why what?"

"Were you jealous if your suspicions were correct?"

"N-No," I said, looking anywhere other than her.

"Bullshit," a cocky grin came on her face. "We barely know each other and yet you're crushing massively hard on me."

"And what if I am?"

"Dinner. Tonight."

"A-Are you serious?"

"What if I am?"

"W-Where would you want to go?"

"I know a place."

"Oh, you know a place."

"I do. You'll love it."

"Alright. Yeah. I'll go to dinner with you. Does that mean you're asking me out on a date? As friends?"

"How about with the potential of being more than just friends," Odessa suggested.

I nodded my head, "A-Alright."

My heart was beating faster now. I didn't even know it was. I took in a deep breath, trying to calm these nerves.

"Where should I meet you?"

"Here."

"Figured, since you know the place."

"And it's close by. It's actually where my mom and siblings are."

"That good, huh?"

"We love it."

"Why didn't you go with them?"

"Wanted to do some training. I can't just sit around when I need to keep this up," she flexed one of her biceps, making the muscle pop.

I swallowed hard, trying not to stare at it. She smirked, letting her arm rest at her side.

"See you tonight?"

"What time?"

"Sundown."

I nodded, "See you then."

I stood up and she did as well, almost banging her head off the ceiling.

"Happens every fucking time," she sighed.

I chuckled as we walked towards the front door. She opened the door and I said goodbye to her. I headed towards the palace and found my father and Aetius and his father by the gates. He bid them farewell and they walked off. My father shook his head and stepped past the gates. I had to get back into the palace before he does. Taking the door that led to the kitchen, I ran up the stairs and towards my room, getting ready for tonight.