by Sandi Rog
David glanced down at his wife, seeing her wide, frightened eyes, but quickly looked back at the monster. “Go!”
Aulus wouldn’t hurt his family again.
Someone grabbed David around his waist and jerked, but David leaned harder into Aulus.
More men pulled on him, yanking on his arms, tugging on his waist. His grip on Aulus loosened. He fought to regain control, shaking one man away. He caught Aulus again, but the men tugged. Galen’s arm came around David’s neck, choking him and yanking him back. To his dismay, David lost his grip on the monster and the man dropped to the ground.
Manius rushed to Aulus as he lay half dead against the wall.
“No!” David shouted, but his words barely made it past his constricted throat. He had to kill the monster. He wasn’t dead yet. David knew how to get out of the chokehold, but head-butting Galen was out of the question. He had no intention of harming his father-in-law, let alone killing him.
Manius shook Aulus, patting him on his face, his ugly scarred face, the face that once laughed at David’s mother when she was afraid.
“Leave him!” David shouted.
Alethea hugged him from the front, pushing him. Two men still held his arms.
Elianna clung to Alexander like a monkey to its mother as the people pushed by them to get to Aulus. She cried on his shoulder, every now and then looking up at David and then at Aulus, clearly not able to comprehend what happened.
He wanted to break away, to go after Aulus again, but he couldn’t risk hurting Alethea, Galen, or his little girl.
“Take her away,” David said through a strangled whisper. But Alexander didn’t hear him through the commotion.
Aulus came to, and Manius helped him to his feet. He teetered to one side and put his hand to his forehead, while others continued to restrain David. They should have let the animal die. He wanted to shout, to break away from Alethea who kept hugging him, and Galen who kept his arm around David’s throat.
“I’m going to let go,” Galen said to David, “but I need your word you won’t go after the man.” He loosened his hold around David’s neck.
Again, David could easily break away, but he couldn’t risk hurting those he loved. Alethea still held him.
“David … son.” Galen spoke to him again. “Give me your word. Don’t go after the man.”
“No!” David clenched his fists.
Galen tightened his hold. “Then we’ll be here all day.”
Manius escorted Aulus into the house, into David’s home. His howl of frustration reverberated through the courtyard.
“Don’t let go, Alethea.” Galen kept his arm fastened around David’s neck. “He won’t hurt us.”
Alethea hugged David tighter, her dark curls tickling his chin and her soft body trembling against his tense frame.
David assumed they’d be there all day and all night. As long as Aulus was within reach, he would kill him.
David had never killed a man. He’d come close. Like when the barbarians had attacked Alethea outside her grandfather’s villa. But he had checked, and the men were still breathing. And then there was the time he had fought the gladiator. He was about to deliver the death blow when Manius had stopped him. He’d lost control then, like now.
Only this was worse, because he’d do it again if he had the chance. He knew it was a sin, and he’d fought hard never to commit such an abomination. But none of that mattered anymore. Amazing how in one instance a sacred value could take flight, leaving its owner unchanged. Yet, he was changed. He was no longer content, satisfied. Nor did he feel a sense of shame for the sin he wanted to commit. Instead, he saw red. Bloodlust. A lust to see that swine pay. To see him die.
Galen had grown tired of holding David by the neck, and he’d asked him to sit down. So, now he sat. Galen behind him, supposedly ready to strangle him, and Alethea in his lap, her eyes and cheeks red from crying. Elianna played a game of Tali with Alexander on the other side of the courtyard. Thankfully, Alexander had enough sense to keep Elianna away. David had shouted at him not to take her in the house. Not when that monster hid in there.
David’s rage had subsided, but he still didn’t trust himself. The enemy took cover in his home. They’d been in there so long the sun had moved to the other side of the courtyard, and now shadows stretched to David’s toes. Enough time had passed for Galen to start snoring behind him.
Most everyone had left. A few lagged behind, just in case more men were needed to stop David again. He knew why they paced the courtyard, casting sidelong glances and watching him beneath their lids. And he knew he could take them down if he wanted to. But he didn’t want to hurt his brothers.
Some tried talking to him, but he barked at them. Others tried praying, and he nearly took off their heads. He wasn’t in the mood for talking, let alone praying. He would talk to Elohim when he was good and ready. And right now, David didn’t have anything nice to say.
After all, Elohim had played a cruel joke. Why would He allow that man back into his life? As his brother of all things. The thought made David want to vomit.
Alethea stirred, resting her cheek on his chest, her arms still wrapped around his waist. Having her jasmine scent and softness against him helped calm the rage inside, despite the numbness in his legs.
Manius appeared from the atrium, his shoulders slumped and his gait slow. He walked toward them, and for the first time David felt like a true son. He’d been adopted by Manius years ago as a favor to his father in order to give David and Sarah Roman citizenship, hoping it would keep them safe from persecution. Little did they know, it was the wisest decision they could have made. David didn’t live with Manius as a child, but now, he felt like a little boy again. A boy about to be disciplined.
“Has everyone calmed down?” Manius stood before them, but David avoided his gaze, staring at his feet.
“We’re all fine,” Galen said from behind, tightening his grip around David’s throat again now that he was fully awake.
Manius knelt in front of them. He rested his hand on David’s knee.
Keeping his face down, David lifted his eyes to Manius. While a slave, he had been whipped, more than once, but somehow this was worse. Knowing he disappointed Manius—and would again if given the chance—felt far worse than a scourging.
“He’s gone,” Manius said. “We took him through the front door.”
“He’s well then?” Galen asked.
David ground his jaw at the question. Why did they care? They obviously didn’t know the man was a ravager of women.
“Yes.” Manius looked at David and their eyes met. “He’s just shaken up.”
“He deserves to die,” David said, his anger rebuilding.
“Why?” Manius’s tone was firm, but his eyes reflected compassion. “What happened? What’d he do to you?”
“Ask him.”
“I did.” Manius sighed and settled on the ground as though preparing for a long conversation. “He didn’t know.”
“Of course not.” David blew air through his clenched teeth. “You get in the habit of raping and killing women, the mind gets a little muddled. Who cares how many had to die at his hand? He doesn’t.”
Manius rubbed his chin, taking in David’s words. “Who?” His voice was quiet, but strong enough to echo in the courtyard and pierce right to David’s heart.
“My mother.” David took a shuddering breath. Saying it aloud made his throat hurt.
“Oh, David.” Alethea looked up at him, and Galen moved to his side.
He wanted to pull away from them, from the pain, from the memory. But he couldn’t. He was trapped.
“Miri,” Manius whispered.
It was the first time David heard his mother’s name spoken aloud since his parents were alive. He forced air into his lungs, nearly choking on the pent-up emotion brought on by the sound of it. The beautiful sound of her name.
“What happened?” Manius asked, his voice grieved.
Dare he tell them what
Aulus did to his family? Not because he was afraid of what the knowledge might do to Aulus and his reputation with the Christians. As far as David was concerned, his reputation could rot a slow death in the fires of hell. Instead, David feared hurting Manius. But he couldn’t hurt him any more than he already had.
“He’s the man who gave me this.” David pointed at the scar on his cheek, remembering the nonchalant swing of Aulus’s sword. “He’s the man who left me for dead in the street. He’s the man who dragged my parents away.” Who dragged them away to their death.
Manius’s eyes widened, and then he nodded. He blew out a breath. Again he rubbed his chin, something he did when deep in thought.
Birds chirped above their heads, oblivious to the pain, oblivious to the horror inside David.
“You have to understand.” Manius dropped his hands in his lap, leaning in closer to David, his gaze full of compassion. “He was doing his duty.”
Rage burned like fire in David’s blood. “He went above and beyond the call of duty toward my mother.” David tried to swallow back the anger, the hurt.
Manius took a deep breath, his face pale. “I understand.” He shook his head. “I had no idea.”
Elianna giggled from the other side of the courtyard. The skittering of knucklebones on the stone tiles echoed in the silence. “I won!” She clapped her hands, oblivious like the birds.
“Well, the two of you are going to have to meet again.” Manius sighed. “This issue needs to be dealt with.”
David shook his head, clenching his fists. “I will not—”
Manius held up his hand to stop him. “That may be what he was’” He laid emphasis on the last word. “But it’s no longer who he is.”
David gritted his teeth, wanting to shout a denial of the monster’s right to redemption.
“Whether you like it or not,” Manius whispered, “the man is now your brother.”
David sprang to his feet, setting Alethea aside. He made fists as he paced. The entire courtyard shook with his anger. He stopped and faced Manius who now stood.
David pointed at him. “He is not my brother!” Spittle flew from his mouth as he spoke.
Manius took a deep breath, holding David’s angry gaze. “He is,” he whispered.
David wanted to hit something. Hard. “If I ever see that swine again, I’m leaving.”
Alethea gasped.
David glanced at her and then at Elianna in the far corner. “I don’t want that man near my family.”
“That’s not the solution, David.” This time Galen spoke, worry in his tone.
David turned on him. “We won’t leave the church. We just won’t live here.”
“Please don’t.” Manius shook his head, his eyes pleading.
“As long as that man is welcome in this house, I won’t stay.”
“I’m begging you, son.” Manius lifted his hands.
David knew Manius would never be able to stay away from Aulus, especially since he acknowledged him as a brother.
The foundation of David’s world had crumbled beneath his feet. He couldn’t remain in a house that welcomed his enemy.
“Where will you go?” Galen asked.
“I’ll rent an apartment.”
“Families are supposed to stay together.” Manius opened his hands. “Stay. We’ll work this out.”
David pressed his fingertips to his temples. He turned to the gate and punched his fist through the wood, its resounding crack echoing through the courtyard.
Ω
Despite the millions of people cramming into Rome, David’s citizenship allowed him to find an apartment in two weeks. In that short time, he was able to save enough of his earnings to have the money available to rent the space. In order to collect the amount needed, David went to his performances without Alexander.
While living with Manius, David was able to give half of his earnings to Alexander and the other half to the church. Now, in order to afford rent, he’d need to keep all or most of it for himself. Perhaps he could charge his clients more when Alexander came along. He would have to see.
With his juggling equipment slung over his shoulder in a cloth sack, David made his way home after a performance in the forum. He walked by pillar after pillar to his apartment, avoiding bumping into people on all sides. They swarmed beneath the arches of the arcade, forming numerous lines to get their latest meal. The scent of minced meat roasting in the eateries wafted on the air. He could almost taste the bread, venison and thick spices. His stomach growled.
Alethea and Elianna had better be ready so they could come right back down for some food. He’d bring a net with his juggling balls. Why not do a small performance here in the arcade? While people waited in line, he could make some extra money.
Life away from Manius was not the same. But providing for his family gave David a sense of pride and satisfaction. Something he hadn’t experienced while living at home.
So far, David hadn’t had another confrontation with Aulus. Manius kept him away from the house, and Aulus didn’t show up to worship on the first day of the week. Manius said until David and Aulus could work things out, Aulus refused to break bread with the brethren.
Good. Let him stay away.
David trudged up the stairs to his new home. Because of the cheaper rates, he had to rent on the top floor. He was grateful their two-room apartment had a window so they didn’t have to depend on light wells and could enjoy fresh air and sunlight.
Downstairs in the back courtyard, he was able to spar with Alexander from time to time, teaching him all he had learned from Titus.
As David made his way over the first landing at the top of the stairs, people squeezed by. Despite being surrounded by so many people, loneliness clawed at him, but he quickly shoved it aside. Soon he’d be with his girls, and the loneliness would disappear.
He made his way along an open passageway then turned down the short, narrow hall that led to his new home. He came to his apartment and paused. Did they forget to lock it? He opened the door without his key and cringed. He’d have to speak to Alethea about it—again.
On the other side of the room, Alethea and Elianna lay on their backs, head to head on the wide windowsill. Elianna’s red-orange locks mingled with Alethea’s dark curls. Rays from the sun reflected on each, emphasizing the stunning contrast of ebony and red. The sight took the air from his lungs. He stood in the doorway, unnoticed, while his two rays of light lit up the dull living quarters.
Alethea sang, twirling her hair between her fingers, and Elianna waved her sheer sash to the rhythm. The light Greek words bounced off the yellow and red painted walls.
“Oh, if I had wings like a dove!
“I would fly away and be at rest.”
David crossed his arms, recalling the time he first met Alethea on the portico of her grandfather’s villa. He a slave, and she, the slave-owner’s granddaughter. She had sung the same words to him then, when they were both slaves: he to a master, she to a murderous patriarch.
“Yes, I would wander far off.
“And remain in the wilderness.”
Elianna continued waving her sash, joining her mother in song, their voices chiming together in perfect harmony.
“I would hurry to my escape. “Far away from wind and storms.”
He couldn’t help but notice the unhappy tone in their voices as they sang. It reminded him of the strain in which Alethea sang while under the watchful eye of her grandfather. And the song and its words seemed only prevalent when one of them felt enslaved.
If Aulus hadn’t invaded their lives, his girls wouldn’t be so miserable.
“Abba will be home soon.” Alethea sighed. “We better get this place cleaned up.”
Together, they slipped off the windowsill.
Elianna spotted him first. “Abba!” She tossed her sash in the air and bounded toward him.
David scooped her up in his arms and kissed her.
Alethea stood frozen, her eyes darting around th
e room. “You’re early.”
“Aren’t you happy to see me?” He grinned, recognizing the guilt on her face for not picking up the clutter.
“Of course.” She put her hands on her hips, lifting her chin in the air. She pinched her lips together, then opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. “I miss Elpida.”
Elpida was a slave from Manius’s home. David cocked a half grin. “You’ve never lived without slaves to bow to your every whim and desire, have you?”
Alethea rolled her alluring brown eyes and straightened. “Of course not.”
“Well, until we can afford to keep a slave, you’ll have to learn to do without.”
He walked up to her—wishing she had come to him first as she usually did—and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him, a genuine smile that warmed his soul like he knew it would.
He kissed her.
Eyes closed, she sighed. “I can do without one, for a while … I think.”
David kissed her again, much more thoroughly this time. “Well, maybe a little longer than a while,” she whispered, unsteady on her feet.
“Do it again, Abba.” Elianna clapped. “She’s going to fall over!” She giggled as Alethea straightened on wobbly legs, feigning dignity.
Ω
It had been a nice day. Until Aulus showed up.
The man’s presence ignited a potent tension that fouled the peaceful surroundings.
David, his family, and Alexander had come to the bank of the Tiber for a midday meal. David had brought a wooden raft for Alexander to practice balancing techniques. With a rope tied to the corner and anchoring it to shore, David let it float away from the bank while Alexander balanced on the wooden slats, practicing kicks and punches. In the cove, the water was low, coming to only about three feet where Alexander practiced. But it was deep enough in the center of the river to hold ships.
Before securing the raft, David had tested the depth himself, to make sure that if Alexander fell, he’d be able to reach the bottom without being swept away by the current.
The children had been watching the turtles swimming in the shallow water while David and Alethea lounged near the hedges. After their meal, Alexander practiced his balancing skills on the raft. During this time, and while Alethea and Elianna were feeding ducks some bread, Galen, Manius, and Aulus, along with several other men from the church, approached.
