by P J Mann
“Nara, do you think Flavius is still…I mean, do you think he is fine?”
“I don’t know. Since he hasn’t sent any of the slaves to let us know that he is fine, and just needed to stay longer, it seems ominous,” he replied honestly. “Maybe he did send one of the slaves, and something happened to him,” he said, standing up and getting out of the pool.
Nara looked at him, puzzled, as he offered him the towel to dry his body. “Would this make you feel better?”
“No, it wouldn’t,” he replied, lowering his head.
“Do you hold Flavius so dear?” he asked, placing the towel away.
“I do, but I am also afraid that, without him, Claudia will get rid of me, the most painful way, the better. I guess she believes she would give a valuable lesson, not just to me, but to her husband and to all the slaves. She doesn’t need much more to terrify us all; she is doing a superb job at that, even without me,” Saul admitted.
Nara smiled, trying to hide his bitterness, for he was telling the truth, and the threat from Claudia was real.
“Well, if she truly wanted to harm you, she had all the opportunities during his absence; maybe you are losing your grip a little bit,” Nara tried to reassure him.
After one hour of grooming Saul, Nara looked at him, satisfied. “Now, you really look stunning. We’d better keep you inside if we don’t want the gods to get jealous.” Nara chuckled.
“I don’t think it could get worse than it is now, so let them be jealous as much as they want,” Saul replied as he dressed.
Flavius woke up early in the morning. His guards were already awake, and one was preparing to leave.
“When are you thinking to let me go?”
“None of your business,” Caius grunted. The other gave him a quick glance but remained silent.
When he was ready, he looked at his mate. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning. I am just glad to be far from that annoying pest. If we didn’t need to treat him well, I would have shut his mouth my way.”
“But we can’t, so get out of here. I will take care of him,” Caius said.
Flavius wanted to yell all the rage in his soul, but he was afraid. He had never felt himself to be in so much danger, so helpless, and so vulnerable. The unpredictability of the future felt unbearable. Did his family, his father and mother, know about him? Was Claudia getting the ransom money? Guilt overwhelmed him for leaving her alone to deal with this. He wondered whether he had really tried to live in harmony with her. Perhaps Saul is right, and I have neglected her.
He felt like a failure, but he didn’t like her, and probably never would.
Time crawled, and he wasn’t sure they intended to free him. Alone with the guard, he asked, “What is going on? Please, why you are still keeping me here? It has been already ten days since you are keeping me prisoner. I have to know what your intentions are, please.”
“I would keep my mouth shut if I were you. It won’t help asking the same questions continuously, as you won’t get any answers. The only thing you need to know is that you won’t be our guest much longer; at least, that is my hope. If you get on my nerves, I might prefer to kill you and forget about the money. The satisfaction would be greater,” Caius replied, handing him food.
Flavius silently ate. He thought the guard was serious when he spoke of killing him, and he couldn’t defend himself. However, he couldn’t be quiet.
During the entire day, the house felt strangely silent. Claudia remained in her room most of the time and asked to not be disturbed unless there was a plausible reason. With the time passing by, she became more and more restless, pacing her room. She didn’t want her slaves to see her like that. Nobody was supposed to see her that agitated.
Even if she could have masked her frustration with her husband still missing, she preferred to keep herself far from everyone.
She knew that if her intentions became obvious from her behavior, it could mean the end of everything, and she would have to suffer the consequences.
If the truth had emerged, Flavius would be the major threat to her. Yet, to finally reach peace of mind, there weren’t other options opened in front of her.
Saul took a break from his duties and went to enjoy the sunny weather in the garden. He lay down and looked at the sky. He loved the intense blue of the midday sky turning darker at sunset. It reminded him of Jerusalem when he was still free and used to lie under the shade of the trees.
His eyes could lose themselves on the horizon when the silver-green color of olive trees and the light brown of the dried earth melted together in a dusty cloud under the shining sun.
In the far fields, dust rose from the herds of goats roaming the pasture, led by the shepherds. Then there was the sky, that deep-blue sky of his homeland and the fragrances drifting to him on the light breeze blowing from the east. He could spend hours like that if it weren't for school.
He smiled and thought about Flavius, hoping he would be back the next day. Every day, he had the same hope, but every time his hopes were destined to meet disappointment. Flavius seemed to have vanished without leaving a trace. Saul wondered if Claudia had any news about him and refused to talk about it with anyone. She never talked about Flavius with any of her slaves. It was like he had never existed.
The night arrived. In the kitchen, all the slaves kept an unnatural silence.
“Why is everyone so silent?” Saul asked as he finished his meal.
“I guess we are confused because Claudia dismissed all of us today. She hasn’t even left her room. I think she felt ill but, if so, why didn’t she order Julius to take care of her?” Nara asked.
“She is probably worried about her husband, and I am too,” another slave said. “Saul, you are quiet too.”
“Yes, I am worried about Master Flavius, and I feel even worse thinking that I should have been with him on this trip. Perhaps things would have gone differently.”
“You really can’t say. If something happened to our Master, we have to think that the slaves who were traveling with him are already dead,” said Julius.
Nara looked at him, his spoon dropping on the floor. “How you can say something like that?”
“I’m just stating the possibilities, and you know that a slave is not worth keeping alive,” Julius pondered, continuing to eat.
Saul shook his head, not wanting to think about Dionysius, Lukos, and Leandros laying dead. He stood and went to bed.
Nara followed him to his room. “Saul, don’t take what Julius says seriously. He always lacks diplomacy when he has something to say. As a physician, I guess he became kind of insensitive to human feelings, but he feels the stress as well.” Nara said, sitting on his bed beside him.
Saul sighed. “I’m truly starting to miss him. I am not sure I can say I love him. As you know, I love Cassandra, but there is something about the way he kisses me that soothes my soul and makes me feel safe. I thought this feeling of safety was possible only with Marcus Tiberius. I have never been his lover, regardless of the erotic pleasures he allowed himself with me. He never took me as Flavius did. He has been a guide, a father, a god. I would have followed him blindly, certain he would lead me safely.
“Flavius is caring and gentle, but something in his tenderness reminds me of my place. I fear, respect, and love him, but he will never be the guide Marcus Tiberius represents to me,” Saul said.
“Wouldn’t you follow Flavius blindly?”
Saul smiled. “I would do anything to have him back.”
Nara hugged him. “Keep your faith; he'll return soon.”
“Thanks. Goodnight,” Saul replied as Nara left the room.
Soon silence and darkness lay over the house like a shroud. Masters and slaves slept, waiting for a new day to come, a new day which would bring better news and joy to the household.
However, not everybody was sleeping.
Dark, evil shadows moved soundlessly through the rooms. Quiet as ghosts and dangerous as demons, they sought their prey, led by a whi
te-dressed figure with a dark purpose in her soul.
Three of them, night creatures, walked across the garden and reached their target.
He was peacefully sleeping.
The first ghost tied his legs; the other, his wrists; and the third lighted up an oil lamp.
“Wake up, slave,” she said, whispering, covering his mouth to prevent him from screaming.
Saul opened his eyes still half-asleep. Of the three figures, he recognized only one; the others had their faces covered.
“Mmmh,” he tried to say, realizing he could almost predict what was going to happen to him. “You don’t make a sound, slave, or it will be the last this world will hear from you,” Claudia hissed.
He tried to calm down and nodded, hoping that whatever was her intention, he could make her reconsider.
“Please, don’t harm me. What did I do?” Saul whimpered.
“You simply exist, slave, and your existence disturbs me. It is always about you; everything is about you, and I can’t stand it. You are always intruding in my life: in the relationship with my husband, with my guests, and the entire world. Now it is time for radical lessons; now you will learn your place. You are nothing but a tool.” A grim smile crossed her face.” And what happens when a tool becomes useless?”
He looked up her and began to whimper, unable to say anything anymore. Between choking sobs, he pleaded, “Please…don’t…”
She remained silent for a while, enjoying his cries. “So? Answer me. “What happens when a tool becomes useless?”
“It is thrown away…” he replied, fearing the direction of that topic.
“Right, slave. This is exactly what will happen when I am finished with you. Keep your mouth shut, if you don’t want to face worse consequences. And, believe me, I can find a way to make it worse. You’re going to become totally useless, and even Flavius won’t have anything to say about getting rid of you,” she said.
“Please, Mistress, please don’t. I beg you.”
She shook her head and grabbed his face. The last thing he saw was the shining blade of a knife.
Then an excruciating pain exploded on his face as the blade sliced cutting through his eyes and nose. A searing heat blazed through his body, and he screamed.
Instantly, the pain came, as sharp as the blade that blinded him. The three ghosts dissolved into the darkness before the other slaves, startled from their slumber, jumped out of their beds.
His voice ripped the thin curtain of the night's sleep of the other inhabitants of the house. The slaves gathered in Saul’s room, but none of them dared to touch him. They remained at the door, shocked at what they saw.
Nara made his way through the crowd and ran to Saul, who held his hands to his bleeding eyes.
“Please, Saul, let me see,” he said, prying his hands from his face. Nara’s blood froze in his veins.
He shouted, desperation clear in his voice, “Julius, where is Julius? Get him here NOW!”
“Saul, calm down. Everything will be fine. Julius will take care of you,” he said, holding him in his arms.
“Marcus…Marcus,” he tried to call through the pain.
Julius charged into the room and took from the arms of Nara. Saul’s cries turned to whimpers, and he trembled as shock took control of his body.
“Now, calm down, boy. I need your full cooperation,” Julius said. With these words, he pressed Saul’s neck, and he fell unconscious. Julius covered his head with a cloth and carried him out as the shocked slaves parted to make way for them.
Julius ordered Nara, “Come with me. We need to bring him to my ambulatory. Only there will I have the right tools to take proper care of him.”
They walked through the garden to the back door.
“Where are you going, and what is this commotion?” Claudia yelled.
“Mistress, something happened to Saul. We are bringing him to my ambulatory so I can take care of him.”
“What happened to him?”
“I don’t know. I hope he can tell us once he comes back to his senses.”
Claudia begged, “Please, Julius, take good care of him. Flavius will be terribly upset if something happens to him.” Turning to the throng of slaves, she said in a harsh tone, “And all of you, return to sleep. There is nothing to see.”
Chapter 17.
Julius and Nara walked through the dark streets in silence, hoping not to encounter any criminals on their way. Nara could not believe what had happened, and nothing made any sense. Were the gods angry with Saul? Why? He shook his head to rid it of the foolish thoughts.
When they arrived at Julius’ ambulatory, Julius placed Saul on a wooden table. “I know it’s not comfortable, but I need you in the best position to check on you, son
“Nara, light the fire and heat water. When it boils, put some of these bandages in the pot. We need to make them really clean.”
Without a word, Nara ran out of the room happy to be told what to do, His mind, numb with shock, needed something to focus on.”
In that same moment, Saul started to come back to his senses. “M-Mar-cus.”
“Not yet, son,” Julius replied, pressing on the lower part of his neck to render him unconscious again.
When the water was ready, Nara brought the entire pot of water and the clean bandages. Julius cleaned the blood from Saul’s face. “Keep his head steady. I need to check the eyes.”
Without saying any word, Nara walked to the head of the table and clasped his face between his hands. Julius opened one eye to the damage. He sighed sadly. Who could have done something like that, and if it were a man, how did he come into the house without being heard? If it wasn’t a man, then what else could have done something like that?
He cleansed the wounds and tried to fix as much as possible. After a couple of hours, he covered Saul’s eyes with clean bandages.
“He will rest for the night. I can manage on my own, but tell me something. Who is Marcus? He called his name.” Julius said.
“Marcus Tiberius is Master Flavius’ father and Saul’s previous Master. I prefer to remain here to help you with him if you don’t mind. Tomorrow morning, I might go talk to Marcus Tiberius to let him know what happened tonight and find out if he knows his son is missing. Someone has to do something. If nobody else wants to, then it is my turn to risk the punishment.” Nara gazed at Saul’s pale face.
“Don’t take any initiative without my consent. You can stay with him until he wakes up. Tomorrow, we will think about what is to be done,” Julius said frowning and raising the index finger in front of his face.
“What is his condition?”
“At the moment, stable. His life is not at risk. The wounds on his face won’t leave any visible marks, as they were superficial, so his beauty will be untouched.”
“What about his eyes?”
“I'm not sure he will be able to see again.”
“You mean he might be blind?” Nara asked, terrified.
“Possibly.”
“Don’t you have a more comfortable place where he can rest?” Nara asked.
“Let’s bring him into the back room. I have a small bed there” Julius took Saul in his arms. “Rest a bit with him. It has been a long night. Call me if he wakes up.”
“Thank you, Julius.”
“It’s my job.”
Nara fell asleep beside Saul and soon a new day dawned on lit Rome and its inhabitants. As the streets became busy with vendors setting up their stalls and people running their daily errands, Julius’ ambulatory received a couple customers.
Nara woke before Saul and watched him sleep. From there, he could hear if some patients were still in the room or not.
Saul stirred. “M-Marcus,” he whispered. He tried to open his eyes, trying to recall the memories from the fog on his mind. His hands flew to his face and touched the bandages. He tried to pull them off.
Nara gently stopped him. “You can’t take them off yet.”
“Nara…” Saul whispered.
“Yes, it’s me. How do you feel?”
“Where am I? What happened? Why are my eyes… Oh my God, it wasn’t a nightmare… was it?”
Nara took his hands. “It wasn’t a dream. Whatever happened to you last night was real. You are in Julius’ ambulatory; he took care of your eyes and wounds. I know it is maybe too early to ask, but what happened yesterday? Who or what harmed you like that? Why?”
Saul tried to recollect his memories. Everything was blurred in his mind, and he was not sure if he was remembering the truth or not. He couldn’t focus on anything from the previous night’s events, and the bandages befogged his mind even more.
“I don’t know what I remember. My head hurts, and I feel confused. Reality and dreams are racing against each other, and I can’t discern one from the other.”
“Don’t you worry, but whenever you feel like it, please tell me.”
“I need to see Marcus Tiberius. He has to know. Go him, tell him what happened,” Saul pleaded, grabbing Nara’s hands tightly.
“I was thinking to go, but Julius ordered me to remain with you and tell him when you get up.”
“Well, I’m awake now. Inform Julius, then tell Marcus Tiberius about me. Tell him about Flavius as well. He needs to know what is going on with his son’s family.”
Nara didn’t reply, and neither did he move from the bed, unsure whether he had to comply or not. He couldn’t see any use in rushing to let his former Master know.
“Nara, why are you still here?”
“Because there are other patients in the room, and I can’t interrupt Julius. I don’t know what I am supposed to do. Perhaps the best thing is to wait and see what Julius says.
“I can’t wait. I am begging you, take me to Marcus Tiberius’ house. I will tell him everything myself. Help me to walk there. At this point, I am no more worried about any punishment, if you have to tell Julius about me. From that point on, I will be exactly where I need to be,” Saul insisted.