Suburani: Sabina x Lucilius

Chapter 5: Now we're getting interesting

I love adding details that tie back to things nobody remembers cause I keep posting the parts too long after one another. Also I get Alexander's character isn't at all canon but it's my book and I hate him. Why did I make him this way? Simple he gives the vibes, he gives women hating vibes. Also writing his povs is so funny to me, the delulu goes crazy.

I hold my fingers to my lips, I can't believe I almost kissed lucilius! I barely feel the cool evening air brushes against my face. Too hidden by the burning in my cheeks. Walking by a stall full of polished metals, catching a glimpse of my reflection. A dark blush covered a majority on my face, growing up to only tickle the tips of my ears. Hair stuck to the sweat pooling on the edge of my hairline. I look awful! I can't believe I have to meet Alexander looking like this! At Least I walked away before Lucilius could see. Gods, so embarrassing. I tug the strands of slicked down hair up, freeing them from their sweaty prison. I rub the back of my hand over where they had been, whipping up the pool before whipping it onto my toga. A strong whiff of my own body odor hits me like a brick wall, it wasn't strong but it was way too noticeable for me to be ok with. Crap.. do i have time to bathe? No, that would take too long. The heavy weight in my hand I had largely been ignoring materialized. Somehow the perfume had managed to slip my mind. 'Replaced by lucilius' the thought appeared instantly like someone forced it into my brain. Catching me off guard, even my subconscious is still stuck on the thought of him. I rubbed the cool glass of the bottle over my face trying to stop the heat rising back up. A passing elderly couple gives me a strange glance and I immediately bring my hands back down. That was so awkward.

The cork pulls off smoothly, the soft delicate scent of the daisies whirls in the air. The oil feels cool on my skin as it glides across my wrist. Slowly soaking in as my fingers gently rub back and forth. My mind wanders back to a conversation Lucilius and I shared on our walk through the forum.

"What flavor did you get?" Luclius asked, gesturing to the perfume bottle still clutching in my palms. "What?" a wave of confusion washing over me for a split second, I didn't realize what he meant. Staring at him in confusion for a few seconds before it clicked. "Oh, the kind?" "yeah i forgot what it was called" he said looking a bit embarrassed but smiling. "Wow I'm surprised I thought nobles always wore perfumes." "Yeah," he gestured to the dirtired state of his clothes. "Smelling nice hasn't exactly been on the forefront of my mind recently." I agreed with him, letting out a short chuckle, " well to answer your question I got a daisy perfume" I told him, ignoring the pulling image of myself plucking the petals off the flower in Cantaber's garden. I held it out for him to take. He did, swifty pulling off the cork and bringing it to his nose. "Smells good. How much was it?" "only *insert cheap price*" his eyebrows shot up. " Wow!? For a perfume like this? That's such a good deal" he gently pushed the cork back in, and turned the bottle to read the label. "A nymph's power" he read aloud. In his eyes spark a glint of recognition as he makes the same realization I did about the name. "Have you put it on yet?" "no, I haven't had the chance" he gently handed back the bottle, our hand brushing against each other ever so slightly. A faint blush creeping across his neck as he mumbles an awkward apology at the same time I do.

I can't stop myself from smiling. Even when I try, my lips curl back like they have a mind of their own. They're only mine again when I round the final corner and see Alexander standing by the fountain. Right where he said he'd be when we parted. What was only a few days ago now felt like eternity. He almost seems like a stranger now. I take a glance at the sun, good i'm not too late. as I walked over to him, i can't help but notice how nervous he seemed. His shoulders were stiff and his posture straighter than his usual awkward slouch. One hand was up by his mouth, with nails getting cut down by feverishly chewing teeth. The other grabbed onto his side, with his arm across his chest. His legs were moving around all antsy. I put my perfume down near the wall before calling to him.

"Alexander!" immediately his head whipped around, locking his eyes onto mine. In his eyes a mix of relief and.. Anger? "Sabina! Where the hell have you been!?" he rushed over, so fast it appeared he teleported. He grabbed both my arms tightly, his jagged nails digging into my tensed up arm. "The forum, I just lost track of time." I said, taken aback by his sudden violent behavior. "Oh is that it?" His harsh grip relaxes but the stinging pain lingers. He lets go pulling away and looking at the floor, not making eye contact. "Sorry just thought you might have.." he mumbled the rest, so quietly I couldn't tell what he was saying. Might have what? Why is he acting so weird.... so... opposite of lucilius? My mind finishes for me. I sigh internally. They are different people, it's only natural they'd be different. Different, sure but violent? When Lucilius put his hands to our mouth he apologized. He looked us in the eye and apologized. Alexander? He grabbed us for no reason. So harshly our arms have deep crescent dents. I glanced down at my arm where he grabbed me. Sure enough just below the sleeve of my toga were four deep crescents, with the skin around still red. He doesn't even look sorry. More thoughts, more memories of Alexander treating me horribly flooded into my mind, like a broken dam rushing into an overflowing river. Everytime he grabbed me roughly. Everytime he got angry at me when I talked to a boy. That he beat his slaves. Random moments, ones I hadn't even considered to be weird at the time were clear. Alexander is not a good person. I need to leave.

"Sabina." The sound of his voice silenced the cacophony pounding in my head.

Alexander's Pov

Thank goodness it was just her losing track of time. I thought she might have met someone else while she was in town. When she took so long to show up I thought she abandoned me. Found someone else like that rich nobel bastard and ran away with him. But it's ok now, after today she'll be mine. Heat rises to my face with my smile as I fiddle excitedly with the ring in my pocket. Now's the time. My eyes escape the floor to see Sabina standing still, eyes glazed over like she's lost in thought. "Sabina." saying her name broke through her mindless state. She can get lost in thoughts later, once we've finally wed and she's nursing our children. [i'm cackling]

"Hmm?" she responded still a little out of it. The way she looked at me was different, a new feeling I can't identify peeking from behind her dark brown eyes. I smirk knowing it was her realizing her love for me. That she wants to be with me forever, oh how excited she's about to be.

"Sabina," I pull her hand towards me, she shivers, probably nervous. I get down on one knee and pull the small gold ring out of my pocket. "Alexan-" "will you marry me?" I say cutting her off, I already know her answer, now she just has to say it.

Sabina's Pov

"Uh" I was stunned, he was serious. Asking for my hand in marriage when we were not even dating. When we've never interacted past anything platonic, he asks to marry me!? "No! Wha- Alexander We're just friends." I said, stepping back a little. his expression darkened. The happy man proposing was gone, replaced in an instant with the Alexander I'd only just come to realize was there. "What?" he asked, anger dripping from his mouth. Like he didn't believe I would have denied him. "No, I don't accept your proposal" I said firmly. "I don't like you that."

Slam

He leaped from the floor like a panther, knocking me to the ground. I hear myself scream. Pain sears in my head as it makes contact with the stone floor. Rough hands gripped my shoulders, holding me down. Alexander was above me, staring into my eyes with a ferocious anger. Terrifying even the deepest parts of my soul. "You do like me Sabina." there was no doubt in his voice, he said it like it was an absolute certainty. That nothing I could say could change his delusion. "You Love me Sabina." insanity glazed his irises. "You don't have to pretend anymore! I know you want to be with me." he pressed against me with his full body weight, i could feel the small pebbles scattered around the floor dig into my back, painfully. Inspiring a trail of tears to leak down the sides of my face, and soak into my sprawled out hair. "Get off me! Alexander I dont like you!" a crazed smile spread across his lips. "You still wont admit it? You're mine sabina. I'll make sure of it" he raised his fist. I screamed, "Hel-"

thwak

All I saw was darkness

All I felt was pain

Someone..

Please Save me

1582 words