by Jaye Shields
“I’m not accustomed to hunger. While I’m here, I might as well experience what it feels like. I would rather get more food for you. The next time I go out, I’ll bring more back for you.”
His promise and easy arrogance took Eirana aback. He knew he’d face danger once more, and yet there was no doubt in his tone that he would return. He’d vowed to bring her sustenance as well.
“Why are you doing this?” Their eyes met and the intensity in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. The large mass of manliness was frightening, and yet his face was the most stunning thing she’d ever seen. Her courage to ask him that one question meant nothing, for it would go unanswered.
The door opened and a guard commanded Ares’ presence. The gladiator stood and glared into the eyes of the soldier, daring him to lay a hand on him. The guard did not but instead, shut the door behind Ares and followed the gladiator through the filthy hallway.
Eirana’s heart dropped. It was so early yet for more blood to spill. Yet, she heard the crowd gathering within the coliseum, and they demanded more.
Chapter Four
As he strode past more slave cells, Ares’ heart panged with another human response. Curiosity. The woman continued to fascinate him. Eirana had been starving. He’d heard her stomach grumbling all night and yet after providing her with sustenance, she’d offered it to another. The bones thrown in had all been bare. He had grabbed one and communicated to Demeter, the God of harvest and sustenance, that he needed her assistance. Surprisingly, Eris, the referee of their little game, had allowed the communication. Usually, when the goddess of chaos allowed something, it made Ares leery. Demeter’s help had been necessary though, and her touch had made the meat regrow upon the bone. Watching Eirana finally take a bite had been worth it.
The strange satisfaction that came from providing something more than war and victory filled him. Putting food in Eirana’s belly had made him happier than many of the celebrations of worship performed for him over the years. She was a fascinating woman indeed.
As he’d made his way toward an entrance, which would return him the forum, Ares heard the Gaulish language coming from one of the cells. Unable to see into the slave holding area, curiosity, and concern filled him. If Eirana saw more of her people suffering, it would crush her.
The roar of the crowd brought Ares back to present. The door before him shook as the people stomped in their seats, filling the coliseum with the sound of thunder. What game awaited him today?
The gate opened and sunlight washed over him. The giant ball of fire beat down even hotter against his human flesh, and the soft burn was a welcomed marking of his momentary humanity.
Striding toward the middle of the forum, the screaming walls of people pumped fresh anticipation through his veins. The God of War inside of him roared for freedom.
Ares gazed from afar at the emperor, the man who often worshipped Ares, and in the name of Rome had taken many lives including those of Eirana’s family. Today, Ares would teach the ruler two things—strength and mercy. The latter being something Ares had not cared about as much before he became human. A recent development inspired by Eirana. The fact concerned him, and yet Ares knew it to be true.
“Gladiator!” The emperor addressed him, his voice echoing through the coliseum as the crowd quieted for their ruler. “You have claimed to be a god of war. Today you will show us how you fare in battle.”
The emperor did not expect a reply but Ares gave one anyway. “I do not claim to be a god of war. I am the God of War. You all know my name but today you will see me in human form, and tremble at my power.”
The crowd erupted in laughter, but he could feel their excitement like currents of lightening thrumming through the air. Ares knew as well that his counterparts would enjoy the show from Olympus.
Let it begin.
Eirana held onto the bars of the tiny window peeking into the coliseum. The bars intended for airing out the stink of the prisoners but to Eirana, it seemed to make the stench of death worse. Just days ago, a lions had feasted on a man not far from the opening, blood spilling across the ground enough to drip through the window into cell. Now her fingers clutched at the blood and dirt-encrusted bars so that she could watch the man called Ares.
He addressed the crowd once more, strength, and confidence resonating in his tone. Despite the pounding in her heart, his powerful voice and proud stance assured her that she would not witness his death. Still, her breath halted as she waited for the battle to begin.
Finally, one of the doors opened within the coliseum and a giant stepped out. Squinting against the sun, Eirana took in the sight of the opposing gladiator. He was at least seven feet tall and covered head to toe in thick black tattoos. She’d seen this man win many battles in the week she’d been there. He’d torn apart human bodies like a butcher slaughtered an animal.
The guards outside her cell roared as they spied the approach of the gladiator. “The Retiarius!” They’d called this gladiator by that name before, and she was quickly learning that the retiarius was a foreign gladiator with a merciless style of fighting and unique weaponry. Like before, the retiarius walked with a long trident in hand. The wicked looking weapon was even taller than the giant that wielded it, with three sharp points at the end. Eirana knew that wasn’t his only weapon.
As if on cue, the barbarian rushed Ares. Unlike most gladiators, neither one wore armor but Ares didn’t look concerned. Eirana sucked in a deep breath as Ares stood still in the face of the retiarius. A beefy arm launched the trident. Ares shifted his stance just enough for the forked weapon to whizz by, missing him by only an inch. The gladiator wasted no time and barreled into Ares, throwing a massive fist into his face. Ares took the blow but landed his own punch to the gut of his opponent. The hard bulk of man didn’t seem fazed and wrestled Ares to the ground.
Eirana watched them roll across the dirt, trading blow after blow. Given no weapon for the fight, Ares had no defense when the retiarius pulled a dagger from an ankle sheath and drove it into Ares’ shoulder. Eirana flinched as the crowd roared with approval.
Ares leapt to his feet and punched the man in the face hard enough to send him stumbling back. Yanking the blade from his shoulder, Eirana’s gray-eyed savior launched at the retiarius, driving the blade into the man’s gut. Ares took another punch to the jaw but continued to hold his own against the towering foe. Finally, the retiarius turned tail to run but Eirana realized he wasn’t fleeing, but only going to retrieve his trident. Ares beat him to the weapon with blinding speed. The retiarius pulled out a hidden weapon that he’d used many times with success. Eirana watched in horror. A weighted net pulled from the beast’s back and thrown toward Ares. Tiny razors in the steel netting ripped into flesh bringing Ares to the ground, a prisoner to its cutting steel.
Even from afar, Eirana could make out the cruel smile on the retiarius’ face. He thought he’d won. The triumphant gladiator took the trident in his hands and held it high above his head to the applause of the crowd.
In his distraction, Ares untwisted from the net peeling away flesh in the process. He threw it around his opponent’s neck. Eirana’s stomach twisted as the man she’d shared a cell with choked the life out a man. The outcry of the crowd filled her cell with the sickening sound of approval. Eirana was glad that her savior still lived, yet it frightened her to the core to see his hand deal death so readily.
The tightening of the net around the retiarius’ neck finally brought the tall man to his knees. Ares’ strong arms still pulled the net tight, but then he bent over and spoke into his opponent’s ear. Neither Eirana nor the crowd would ever know his words, but then something strange happened. Instead of taking the retiarius’ life, Ares kicked him forward and released his hold on the net. He’d spared him.
Approval swelled within Eirana. He was a warrior but not a killer.
As Ares walked toward the stands where the emperor sat, his gaze cold and challenging, the retiarius leapt up in a mortified fury and grabbed
the trident. A scream escaped Eirana but Ares turned just in time and stole the weapon back, driving it through the gladiator’s head. The retiarius collapsed to the ground for the final count.
The crowd bellowed with praise at the unexpected twist of events. Eirana finally released the breath she’d been holding. Now her gladiator had to survive the emperor’s ruling. If the crowd loved him, Caesar would have a hard time putting him down for the people’s opinion meant much in the forum. A hush fell over the crowd as they awaited the decision.
An open palm came from the emperor. Her gladiator would live.
For now.
Chapter Five
Ares glared at the emperor and let his fury burn into the gold-crowned man in the stands. Open palm or none, Ares would survive whatever they sent his way. As a matter of fact, he was glad for the wound in his shoulder for the throbbing pain made him feel all the more human—the agony drawing on his power, making things all the more exciting.
“That was your best? One man to take down a God?” Ares shouted up to the emperor’s podium. The crowd silenced at the daring outburst. This made Ares smile for there would be no bowing down while he was a human.
The emperor stood and clenched his fists by his side. Ares continued to stride closer. The woman by Caesar’s side smiled at Ares, yet the gold decorations she wore paled in comparison to the bright emeralds of Eirana’s gaze.
“The people are about to see a God ripped to shreds then, slave.” At the emperor’s words, trap doors opened on both sides of the coliseum and released four lions. Once more, the crowd erupted into shocked gasps, a hiss that echoed through the coliseum. As the giant cats ran toward him, Ares spared a quick glance in the direction of the tiny barred window of the slave quarters. Concerned eyes glittered back at him, a beautiful image framed by the dark, cruel bars of the window above the blood-sand of the arena. The fear in her gaze was clear. She worries for me.
The lions roared, picking up speed as they bounded toward him on both sides. Four hundred pounds of sheer muscle rushed his way so Ares hunched, preparing for impact. The first lion reached him, roaring, revealing six-inch canines as it leapt forward. The sharp claws of the beast never came. Instead, the lion’s warm, scratchy tongue traced a long, wet trail down his cheek. Ares laughed at the odd sensation, overwhelmed at the joy of having the massive beast in his arms and all his own limbs intact. Sensing the God in him, the lethal beasts didn’t tear him to shreds like they would the other gladiators.
The other lions piled on top as if this was the only play they’d had in years. So as not to have his human body crushed by the weight, Ares wrestled his way out of the pile. When he reached the top of the pile rolling with a lion in his arms, the ruckus of the crowd erupted to a new level.
The people expected a blood bath, but they didn’t get one. Instead, Ares had his first four friends as a human but not surprised that his primary comrades would be animals.
Twenty guards came to retrieve the lions but upon their approach, the jungle cats roared and lashed out with their paws. Only after someone threw meat into the corridor from whence they came did the lions leave Ares’ side.
The emperor stood and the coliseum gradually silenced once more. “You have lived another day, gladiator, survive my next battle, and you might earn a name. You—”
Ares turned and threw his fist into the air, and the crowd erupted like thunder, cutting off the emperor’s last words. Perfect. When the door to the slave entrance opened, Ares left the arena without waiting for the customary dismissal.
Striding into the corridor that led back to the women’s cell, Ares found a large guard blocking his path. “The Doctores wants to see you.”
So he was being summoned to the gladiator master? Good. After all, he had a promise to fulfill.
Ares allowed the guard to pull his hands behind his back and fasten cuffs tightly around his wrists. Led through a maze of corridors, the guard arrived with Ares at a large door. After a loud knock and a command to enter, the guard shoved Ares forward. Ares glared at the guard, telling the brute without words that the next time they met he would repay the favor.
“Do you speak Latin?” The man addressing him sat comfortably in a large chair, but the scars etched deep into his tanned skin revealed the true nature of the man. He was not a noble or an officer, but once he’d been a gladiator. After working the ranks for years, gladiators often achieved this status. Ares would not be around long enough for that, but he’d steal an equal amount of glory before he left.
“I speak every language,” Ares answered the doctores back in Latin.
“Bono, than I can tell you what you already know, that you have achieved a great deal of popularity already. Your words have not yet gotten you killed, and none has been able to slay you. Well done.”
“I care about glory but it won’t be found cutting down defenseless slaves.” Ares eyed the plate of food in the corner of the room. “Before I take my leave, I’ll have a fresh plate for myself.”
“A good fighter deserves nourishment. Gladiators always feast well the night before their fights. Did you not eat?”
“I’m staying elsewhere.” Ares didn’t feel the need to elaborate.
“You will dine with me then. I have much desire to learn how you came to us. I wish I could boast that I found you myself, but your presence was all the more shocking to me when you appeared to fight besides my gladiators. Many of them have spent years in training, and yet you cut through them as if they were made of wood.”
“I’ll take my food and my leave.”
“However you desire.” The master turned and ordered a plate of food.
“Make sure there are grapes as well as protein.”
Ares received a glare from the doctores in response. “Only if you answer my questions as we wait.”
“Fair enough. I’ll start with the first question. When was the last time you worshipped one of the Gods in Olympus?”
“I worship Bacchus on many occasions.”
Ares smirked. Didn’t they all.
“It is not as you think,” the doctores explained. “I have great desire for my wife to be with child. When I was a young gladiator, I could not take a woman as my own and have children. Every day I ask Bacchus for this gift. And you? Who do you worship?”
“I worship no one. But I’ll put in a good word for you.”
The food arrived and the doctores motioned to the guard. “Unshackle him so he can take his food.” When Ares’ hands were free, the Gladiator master shook his hand. “I saw what you did today. You offered mercy. This is something the coliseum does not see often. Enjoy your meal, Ares.”
So, the man remembered his name. Good.
He would not let the people of Rome forget.
“I’ll be taking this, too.” Ares walked to the corner of the room and gathered the second plate of food in his arms as well. He had mouths to feed.
****
Before Eirana even saw Ares, she scented his return. He had promised her there would be more food. Now, even over the metallic scent of blood from the women’s wounds, she could still make out the aroma of fresh meat and cheese. Finally, his body came into view and if the sight of his striking face weren’t enough, the delicious image of the two platters of food would have been enough to cause her knees to buckle.
Immediately upon his arrival, the surviving women gathered around him. Eirana hung back in the corner of the cell with Camilla by her side and watched Ares. Despite the slaves crowding around him, he’d never taken his eyes from hers since the moment he’d entered the cell.
“Everyone sit in a circle,” his voice commanded softly. “There is food enough for all of you.”
Only ten women remained but all obeyed him…as if he were a god. She didn’t blame them after all, he’d been their savior, too. She’d all but forgotten about the food until Camilla handed her a piece of bread. Refocusing, Eirana realized she’d been staring at Ares, who returned her stare with a subtle smile on his lips.
She didn’t see him smile often but the tiny upturn of his lips was enough to fill her stomach with butterflies.
As the two large trays of food Ares had brought passed among the women, he finally came to her. Ares knelt before her and offered a cloth with an assortment of meat, grapes, cheese, and more bread. His eyes glittered like the granite boulders dotting the landscape of her homeland, satisfaction clear in his gaze.
Eirana’s stomach forced the butterflies out with an intense growl of hunger. Camilla smiled as she peeked into the tiny package. Her youthful brown eyes smiled up at Eirana as she reached for a grape.
Ares shook his finger at her and his brows furrowed into a frightening expression causing Camilla’s hand to retreat with a snap back into her lap. Then an incredible thing happened, Ares laughed, revealing shiny white teeth in a full bright smile.
In that moment, Eirana knew she was done. For whether she died in the coliseum, or she was eventually separated from Ares, she knew she’d die of a broken heart. He’d just taken it captive.
Ares leaned forward and Eirana heard him whisper to Camilla in the girl’s language. Eirana wasn’t sure what the handsome gladiator had said, but it made young Camilla giggle. Pulling another folded napkin from behind his back, Ares handed Camilla a giant portion of her own.
Still captivated by the presence of the mysterious gladiator, Eirana hadn’t even tasted her dinner. Ares met her gaze, perhaps realizing her fascination with him. She was too in awe of him to blush. Instead, she parted her lips as he reached forward to feed her a grape. His eyes never left hers but the experience was very sensual for Eirana. The grape passed her lips and hit her tongue—ecstasy. She closed her eyes and dared to hope the dream overtaking her nightmare would last forever.
Beneath the floors of the coliseum, there was no way of knowing what tomorrow held. What Eirana did know, was that she’d fight to keep this brief happiness alive. In the cold, dark cell, Ares and Camilla had quickly become her family. In the dark nightmare existing in the coliseum, Eirana would no longer let Ares be the sole champion. She too would fight to protect her family.
