GladiatorsAtonement (8 page)

“All right, I had my lover in here with me,” she admitted,
facing Thelonius. “He took me over and over and over again—right under your
nose.”

Thelonius visibly shook with rage, his face going red. “Who
is he? I will gut him like a fish before your very eyes.”

“What does it matter to you? Does it burn you with jealousy
he can please me, but you cannot?” She laughed with glee. “It is why you bleed
your victims, bathe in their blood. You want youth, luster and some stone in
your shaft. Tell me, Thelonius, does it work?”

Thelonius shook her. “His name, or so help me gods I will
bleed you.”

“His name is Eratos.”

A shiver of dread ran down her spine as she spied Eratos,
sword drawn, standing behind Thelonius. His eyes were blazing with an azure
fire as he stared at Thelonius with pure hatred.

Thelonius spun her around and held a knife under her chin,
the point digging into her throat like the sharp tooth of a wild beast.

“I thought it might be you.”

“Someone had to bed her, and only one of us was man enough
to do it,” Eratos taunted.

Thelonius growled.

“Does it make you angry that he desires me over you,
husband?” Helena choked out. Thelonius’ grip became tighter, the knife drawing
a bit of blood.

“Come a step closer, Celt, and I slit her throat.”

Eratos stilled.

“Do not listen to him, Eratos.”

“Fine, but this gentleman here has come to purchase her.”

“Do not,” Eratos said quickly, lowering his sword slightly.

Thelonius began to laugh. “I see some hesitation on our dear
gladiator’s face. Has the slave fallen in love with the married Roman woman?”
He chuckled with delight, making Helena’s stomach churn. “This is a story
worthy of Aeschylus.”

“Let her go, Thelonius,” Eratos said calmly.

“Lower your sword and we’ll talk.”

“No, Eratos. Do not.”

The metal rang out as Eratos’ weapon landed against the
marble floor. “I have to, Helena. I have to.”

“Kick it to me, brave warrior, and drop to your knees.”

Helena felt the tears stinging her eyes as Eratos obeyed
Thelonius, but he did not release her from his death grip.

“Strip, slave, and stand on the far wall of the garden to
face all of Antioch so they know you belong to me. If you do not comply, I will
slit her throat and bleed her over the city.”

Eratos said not a word as he removed his clothing and walked
dejectedly to the high wall that bordered a cliff that dropped down into the
city.

“That’s it, warrior. Face Antioch. When I am through with
you, you will wish you’d never been born.”

Thelonius tossed her away and she slid across the dew-covered
grass. The two men hefted her to her feet, holding her tight, yet they did not
take her away. She watched as Thelonius climbed up on the wall. A lump formed
in her throat as he stood beside Eratos, touching him.

“I knew you would never be able to kill me, Eratos. Deep
down, you love me. Admit. You cannot be without your master.”

Eratos said nothing as he stared out over the city of
Antioch. He was beaten again and there was only one escape. Thelonius turned to
the men. “You can take the whore away for free, my compliments to your master.”

“No!” Helena screamed as they dragged her away. She saw
Eratos’ head snap around. Thelonius was unaware of the blue fire burning in his
eyes. The warrior freed finally.

Helena watched in slow motion as Eratos pulled a dagger from
Thelonius’ belt and flung it. Helena let out a scream as it whizzed by her
head, finding its mark in the base of the slaver’s throat. A warm spray of
blood splattered her, before her captor crumpled to the ground.

Thelonius roared with rage. “How dare you!”

Eratos turned on him, growling in anger. Her heart lurched,
knowing that Eratos meant to take Thelonius over the cliff with him. She could
not let that happen.

Rising to her feet, she pulled her stola off so it would not
trip her. Closing her eyes, she screamed and ran forward. Thelonius screamed as
she connected with his back, breaking open the scabs from his cut.

Eratos jumped down beside her as Thelonius threw his arms up
in the air before losing his balance and tumbling over the edge. She buried her
head against Eratos’ chest, listening to Thelonius’ brief scream before there
was nothing but silence.

“Is he…?” she whispered.

“Aye, he’s dead.”

She began to shake over the realization of what she had
done, and the fact that they were now both free.

“I couldn’t bear him to hurt you, Eratos. I love you with
every fiber of my being.”

Eratos held her close. “And I you,
anam cara
. I had
nothing to live for, until you.”

Helena held back her tears of happiness. “You must hide for
now. The guards will be here soon to investigate. I must act the part of a
proper widow.”

Eratos nodded. “I understand.” Helena helped him gather his
things and he retreated to the confines of the olive grove alcove. It was only
then she managed to walk to the edge of the garden, to the wall that dropped
down to the streets below.

She saw a crowd gathering around Thelonius’ broken body
lying against the cobblestones, the guards looking up at the villa in mixed
confusion.

“By the gods, no!” she screamed so they could hear her. “My
husband!”

Epilogue

Two months later

She took the steps two at a time, the sounds of a chisel
coming from what had once been Thelonius’ room. Now, she could hear Eratos
working on it, converting it into a rooftop terrace where they could lie out and
watch the stars together.

She had played the part of the sobbing widow so well that
the Antioch guards did not question her. She had told the soldiers a slaver had
come to kidnap her and Thelonius killed him, but in his haste tumbled off the
far wall. He was considered a hero, but she did not care. An Imperial scroll
had come from Emperor Nero bestowing his condolences and as much as she wanted
to tear it up she knew she could not. So she placed it in Thelonius’ funerary
urn, which she promptly dumped into the sea, stating it was his fondest wish as
there had been no will to attest to anything different.

Everything belonged to her again. No more would her money be
used for Thelonius’ sick need to bleed and torment unwilling subjects. He was
gone, and both she and Eratos were free.

As much as she wished to marry him, she knew they could not
legally do so. Spiritually she knew they were bound together forever and by
something secret growing underneath her heart.

When she entered the chamber she saw the walls had been
sanded down and Eratos was redoing them in Celtic tile work.

She stood there for a moment, admiring the way his muscles
rippled, the sun bronzing his skin. He was growing back his blond hair—he no
longer shaved it down—and it thrilled her to no end thinking about the moment
it would return to its full luster and she would be able to run her hands
through it.

Eratos turned and smiled at her. “
Anam cara
, I did
not hear you come up.”

“I have come to admire your work.”

Eratos bowed, motioning her to come into the room. She stood
in front of the shimmering tiles, staring at the intricate knot-work design
done in turquoise.

“What is it? It’s beautiful.”

“It is a symbol for atonement. I thought it was fitting.”

“Yes, very.” She ran her fingers over the cool pottery
tiles. “Beautiful.” She could not stop grinning.

“You’re looking very pleased with yourself this morning.”

Helena chuckled. “I have a secret.”

Eratos arched a brow. “Oh, do tell.”

“I am with child.”

He took a step back, dumbfounded. “Truly?”

She nodded her head. “Are you pleased?”

“Am I pleased?” He let out a roar of laughter and swung her
around. “
Anam cara
, you have made me the happiest man in the world.” He
gently kissed her. “I am so happy I found you, Helena.”

“Aye and I am happy you came back, Eratos. My brave warrior,
but do you not miss Britannia? We could return there.”

Eratos shook his head. “No, we are safe here. I will remain
your servant—no one will question our child’s legitimacy.”

“Britannia is your home though.”

He shook his head. “My home is here with you,
anam cara
.
Now and forever.”

Helena sighed. Forever sounded like paradise.

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