The Slave's Gladiator

Chapter 13: Stowaway

Time stood still. No one moved or even dared to breathe as the aftermath of what happened settled upon them.Gamba was the first to break the trance. His fingers pressed against the reddening mark upon his face. "You slapped me?"

Anger, boiling hot fury, planted her feet in front of the furious gladiator. "You lied to me!" She hissed. Hurt and pain twisted into a sharp dagger of words. "How long? How long did you know!" Hands pushed the gladiator who remained as firm as a mountain. Her vision blurred. "How long?"

As she tried to push him again, his wrist latched onto hers. She yanked her hands back, trying to free herself from his grip. A sob broke free before she leaned her forehead against his chest.

Gamba sighed. "I knew as soon as you told me your real name." Her real name. Valeria's sobs wracked her body. He knew all along. "He would talk about you and-"

"Stop." Her breath shuddered. "Please, stop." It was too much. The pain of betrayal burned her flesh with flames of torment and frustration. "I trusted you!"

The words wrecked from her chest like pure venom. More tears blurred her vision as another feral cry ripped from her lips. She wasn't sure how long she sat there crying and screaming, fighting against the man who took her very love, her very life away.

"Valeria," his voice softened. "If I could go back in time, if I could fix everything I would."

His hand cupped her face. "Trust me, I would."

Trust? Her eyes narrowed. "You don't deserve my trust." With a renewed shove, her hands slipped free. Without a glance back, she rushed out the building. Her sandals pounded against the stone floor as she pushed herself further and further away from the homes.

The shouts of the forum soon surrounded her.

"Jewelry here! Get your jewelry here!"

"Fresh fish! Right out of the sea."

"Mampalam, here! Get your mampalam here!" Valeria slowed at a stall with weird yellowish-green fruits. Some even had bright red at the end. "Mampalam? Two for one silver."

Shaking her head, she moved on. Her stomach couldn't stand the thought of eating now.

He knew. All this time he knew. Her hands clenched. The betrayal burned deeper than any dagger or whip wound in her life. Her hand gripped her chest.

Closing her eyes, a bitter tear leaked out and rolled down her face. And to think I actually loved him. A pained laugh bubbled up from the depths of her gut. It spilled over, while her palm struck her head over and over. Stupid, stupid, stupid! She was so stupid.

"You alright there?" Another seller spoke up. He frowned at her. "You seem to be a little...aggravated."

"I'm fine." Her hands wrapped around her arms. "It's been a long day."

A day I much rather forget. She bit her lip. I bet he was just rubbing it in my face this whole time. Laughing at the naive little slave I was!

Well, not anymore. He can- Valeria's head jerked up. Just beyond the calls of merchants and other citizens, a pair of steps matched her own. Frowning, she started to speed up. Not even a second later, the steps sped up as well.

Someone's following me. She didn't dare look back. Maybe I can lose them through the crowd. Pushing her legs faster, she ducked and eased between the crowd. As she turned a corner, she pressed herself behind a stack of crates. Her hand snapped to her mouth as two men soon followed.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know." The leader growled. "Seems like this slave is a slippery one."

The smaller one spoke up. "Varinius isn't going to be too happy to hear." Varinius! Her heart flipped. So he is here!