Unable to find Valerie and Julius, Clarus walked back into the house. She should have told Valerie what she’d heard Julius tell Stella last night. Clarus couldn’t sleep from the heat so she’d gotten out of bed to seek a cooler place to pass the night. As she tip-toed by Stella’s door, she heard a man’s voice from within. She shouldn’t have done it, but she stopped and placed her ear to the wood, listening to Julius whispering with Stella.
“Soon, I’ll have her out of your way, my love.”
Stella replied with a deep throaty chuckle. “She’s been a thorn in my side since the day she arrived.”
“I’ll enjoy getting rid of her. And I’m doing it all for you.”
Clarus didn’t listen to the rest of their conversation as they began to make low guttural grunts and moans.
Why didn’t I warn Val?
She didn’t have the chance to tell her, with all the preparations for the banquet and then she completely forgot when the earth began to shake.
She wrung her hands in agitation. She needed to help her friend. But how…? Christos!
She squared her shoulders and headed toward the garden.
“Where is that lovely slave of yours, Christos?” Felix asked. “I have a pile of dirty plates I’d like her to take away.” He gestured toward the center of the table. “I haven’t any room left for a dish of dessert and I was so looking forward to Stella’s pomegranate cake.”
“I think I saw her going out the front door during the disturbance.” Gravia flicked a crumb of bread from her arm. She raised her eyes to Christos. “She probably took advantage of the diversion to escape. What do you think, my love?”
Christos ignored their comments. They might be his oldest friends, but that definitely didn’t mean he trusted them.
He excused himself and walked about the garden, chatting with his guests, while covertly inspecting every corner and niche as he did so. Concerned by her absence, he called to Stella, who came lumbering out of the kitchen at his command.
“What is it, Master?” she asked, her breath coming in short gasps.
“Where is Valerie?”
“I thought she was out here, sir, where I told her to be.” She looked nervously about. “I fear my cake is going to burn, Master. May I please return to the kitchen?”
“Have Julius go looking for her.”
Stella bowed her head. “Yes, sir.”
With a wave of his hand, Christos dismissed the woman. He walked back to his dining couch. Turning his attention to Gravia, he asked, “If you saw her leaving, why didn’t you say something?”
“Why, Christos, I was so terrified by the earthquake, it took all of my strength to hold on to you.” She glanced at him again through her lashes and smiled. “I’m certain she will return in the morning. After all, how far can she get, considering she is crippled?” Gravia patted the empty space next to her. “Come, finish dining with us.”
“Please do, friend,” Felix bade. “If the girl doesn’t show up by morning, I’ll go with you myself to fetch her home.”
A frown creased Christos’s brow as he lowered himself to his seat. Gravia had been through plenty of quakes to be so frightened. And Felix was being too damned accommodating. They knew something and there was no way to find out at the moment without creating a scene. He could hardly leave his guests to run off in search of a slave, especially after just telling Stella to send Julius out after her.
Valerie was foolish to think she could be rid of him so easily. She was his, after all.
His eyes wandered about the garden, not focusing on anything in particular, when the lamplight glinted against a woman’s emerald necklace. It brought to mind a pair of emerald-green eyes…haunting his dreams for months…pleading for help as she was dragged through the streets…smoldering with sensuality as she bathed…glowing with tears after he’d raised his hand to her…
His chest constricted as he thought of Valerie.
I gave her every excuse to run away, and none to stay…
“Christos, I asked if you would like a piece of cake.” Gravia licked her dark red lips as she offered him a bite with her own hand.
Absently, he opened his mouth and accepted the offer. Everyone at the table cheered and applauded. He shook his head as if to clear it, then realized what he had done. “Forget it, Gravia. It won’t work.”
“But you just accepted my proposal of marriage, did you not?” She waved her arm in a wide sweeping motion. “And I have all of these witnesses.”
“Perhaps his feet are already growing cold,” Felix offered.
Gravia smiled, triumphant. “Do not worry, my love. I will warm them for you, for the rest of our days.”
Chapter 27
Clarus scurried down the walkway and into the garden. She tripped over the shrubs and fell, face first, at Gravia’s feet. She raised herself to her knees, panting.
“Why are you in such a rush?” Christos asked, an amused smile playing about his lips. “Are there demons chasing you?” He looked over her shoulder, a mock frown creasing his brow.
“It’s Valerie,” she gasped.
“Ah yes, the missing slave with the emerald eyes,” Felix said. “Have you come to tell us she’s run away? We already know that. Now, why don’t you clear these plates away for me. When you’re through, you can fetch me some cake.”
Clarus opened her mouth to speak, but Gravia interrupted her. “Do what you’re told, girl, and be quick about it!”
Clarus looked at Christos, tears welling in her eyes. “Let the child speak, Gravia,” he said. “Felix’s belly can wait a moment longer.” Christos leaned forward, smiling again. “Now, what is so important that you must interrupt this dinner?”
“I–I’m sorry, master. It’s just that I know Valerie did not run away.”
Christos’s smile faded. “And how can you be so certain?”
“She is an escaped slave,” Gravia stated flatly. “She deserves no further attention from us.” She studied her long fingernails. “Julius is going to take care of her.”
Christos’s head swiveled to Gravia. “What do you mean, ‘Julius is going to take care of her?’”
“Julius is the problem!” Clarus said taking a step closer.
Gravia stood. “This slave girl is impertinent!” With one swift motion, she backhanded the girl across the mouth. Clarus fell and slammed her head with a sickening thud against one of the portable stoves.
Christos jumped to his feet and rushed to the child’s side. He lifted her and cradled her limp form in his arms. When he pulled his hand away, it was stained bright red with blood. “You are truly a cold woman, Gravia, to attack a child so viciously.” He ground out the words as his eyes bore through her.
“She is not a child. She is just a slave, for the love of Zeus.” She shook her head. “Really, Christos, I think you grow too attached to these servants of yours.” She straightened her gown. “One would think you exhibit, shall we say, an unnatural affection for the girl?”
Christos’s eyes narrowed. “Your games grow tedious, Gravia. You will take your leave now.” He stood with Clarus in arms. The remaining guests milled about, as if they weren’t certain what to do next. Christos sighed and turned to his guests. “My apologies, dear friends. It would seem as if the gods were playing a hand against our having a good time tonight. Please take your leave, we shall enjoy each other’s company once more, in the near future.”
As the guests left, Christos climbed the stairs to the loft above the kitchen. Gently, he laid Clarus’s still form on her bed. He put an ear to her chest. Thank the gods. She was still alive. He poured water into a clay bowl and began to bathe her wound. “Please, little one, you must awaken. I need to know what has happened to our Valerie.”
“Julius! You can’t leave me here!” Valerie screamed as she clutched at the wall, of the damp, dark cave, to keep from falling over. The flo
or of the cave was on an incline and it was all she could do to stay close to the entrance so that she wouldn’t slide farther down.
“Don’t fret. I’ll return soon enough.” He grinned, the firelight from the torch he was holding distorted his face like a demon of hell. He stuck the torch into the cave opening, sending a thin shaft of light flickering inside. “Now, tell me you’ll miss me.”
He’s mad. I am dealing with a mad man.
The only way out of this was to convince Julius she wanted him. Valerie shuffled toward him. “I—I will miss you very much. I don’t want us to be apart.” She reached out to him with one hand, her other hand sliding down the damp wall of the cave. “Please, take me with you.”
Julius grinned again and ducked back out of the cave. Valerie could barely make out his shape as he began to roll a heavy stone in front of the opening.
“What are you doing?” She tried to make her way to the entrance but lost her footing and slid to the bottom, landing in a heap. “No!” she screamed again as the last bit of light from the torch disappeared from sight.
Her chest heaved and her body shook with sobs as her thoughts raced in panic.
Oh, dear God, how am I going to get out of here?
The tears ran freely down her cheeks. Did Christos know? Had he ordered her to be punished because of her behavior at the party?
Valerie sneezed as the moistness of the cave worked its way into her bones. She took a deep breath and the smell of salty sea air filled her. She reached down and felt the ground, scooping up a handful of the substance that covered the rocky floor. It was sand. The cave must be located somewhere near the water, if not right on the shore.
Something scurried by, and she pulled her legs up as best she could, tucking them beneath her. She shifted as she tried to find a halfway comfortable position where she sat in the rocks and sand. Valerie took another deep breath. She reached out to the sides, feeling the rocky walls of her dungeon. They weren’t more than an arm’s length away, all around. Valerie swallowed hard. She must be at the bottom of some sort of natural well. Considering she was so close to Vesuvius, it might even be a lava tube.
“Help!” she shouted. “Is anyone out there?” The sound bounced off the walls. Valerie covered her ears. There was no way out, except up.
She sat up on her knees and, feeling around with her hands, searched for any crevices to help her climb back up. Locating one of the footholds that Julius had used, she gripped it tightly and pulled herself up, slipping her good foot into it. She found the next one and grabbed hold. Raising her impaired foot, she forced it into one of the openings. She put her weight on it slightly, testing it for support, but the lack of strength in her foot caused it to slip from the foothold and she fell back down to the cave floor.
“Bloody hell,” she cursed and drew herself up on her elbows.
Valerie tried again and again to no avail. Exhausted, she scrambled to a rock and climbed up on its surface. She ran a hand through her hair and nestled back into a small niche in the side of the cave. She hugged her arms around her waist and closed her eyes, forcing herself to remain calm. There would be no way out of her prison, at least not until Julius returned.
“Julius, my love,” Gravia purred. “Tell me again how you got rid of her.” She rubbed a hand along his thigh, and he moved closer.
“It was quite easy, really. The earthquake was the perfect diversion. I simply told her she would be safe with me.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Can I help it if I’m so convincing?”
Gravia laughed and clapped her hands together. “I love it! But for now, you must return to Christos’s house. They think Stella sent you in search of the girl.” She cast a sidelong glance at her companion. “Will the woman lie for you?”
“Stella? Of course, she will.” He nuzzled her neck. “She thinks I got rid of Valerie for her, the silly woman.” Julius lowered himself between Gravia’s legs. “If she only knew.”
Clarus shifted and Christos sat up. He groaned, stiff from spending the night on the hard floor. The bright light of morning had worked its way through a crack in the roof and touched the girl’s eyelids. She swiped at it, as if she could make the disturbance go away.
“Clarus?” he whispered her name. “Are you awake?”
“I’m thirsty,” she murmured, the words slurring together.
Christos’s face broke into a smile. “I’m so happy to hear that, little one.” He helped her sit up so she could drink from the goblet of water he offered. He frowned as he felt the large bump on her head. Gently, he lowered her back to the pillow. “How are you feeling?”
“My head feels as if it is on fire.” She slowly opened her eyes. “What happened? Why are you here in my room?”
“I was too worried about you to let you sleep alone.” He smiled again. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Clarus started to nod, then stopped as the pain became unbearable. “I remember. Mistress Gravia. She hit me.” Tears rolled down her pale cheeks. “Why, master? Why?”
“I cannot answer your question, little one. Everyone is ruled by their own conscience and it appears that Gravia lacks one.” He wiped her brow with a cool cloth. “Last night, you started to tell me something about Valerie. Do you remember?”
Clarus scrunched up her face as if deep in thought. Suddenly, she tried to get to her feet. Christos carefully pushed her back down. “Please, I must find her.”
“I wish to find her as well. Do you know where she has gone?”
“I only know what I heard yesterday, before the party. Julius told Stella he was going to get rid of her.” She took a deep breath. “During the earthquake, I saw him push Valerie out the front door.”
“But when Gravia said she saw Valerie leave, she didn’t mention Julius.” He eyed her intently. “Are you certain of what you heard?”
“Valerie would not run away,” Clarus whispered.
“How can you be so certain?”
“Because she can’t get home from here.”
“That I know, dear Clarus. Valerie used to live across a great sea and would need a boat to travel home.”
“No, that is not why. She is from another time. She told me her story. She came from the future and does not know why she’s here or how to get home.” Clarus’s voice trailed off as she drifted back to sleep.
Christos leaned back on his heels and wiped the damp cloth over his own forehead. The future? Impossible! But then, he remembered their conversation in the garden. What was it she had said? She was a student of history. And she knew of the earthquakes. Slowly, he stood. She had also said Vesuvius was going to destroy Pompeii.
He leapt up and rushed down the stairs. The front door opened, and Julius entered just as Christos reached the atrium.
Christos approached him casually, knowing he had to be careful if he was to find Valerie. “You look terrible, my friend. Where have you spent the night?”
“That’s just it. I haven’t slept at all.”
Christos rubbed his chin, considering the man. “Really? I thought you would have found time to rest. Or, at the very least found, a pair of willing arms to offer comfort.”
Julius grinned. “Well, under the usual circumstances, perhaps. But when Stella said you wanted me to find the runaway slave, I was so intent on my duty that I searched all night.” He stomped his feet, knocking off the sand that still clung to the inside of his sandals.
Christos nodded toward the floor. “It would seem your travels took you quite a distance from here. I would have thought the girl would not be able to get far, given her foot.”
“Well, she might have had an accomplice…” His eyes skittered away. “But I did my duty to you, did I not?”
“Ah, Julius, you are truly a friend.” Christos clapped the larger man on the back. “And I want you to know your loyalty will not go unrewarded.”
Julius coug
hed and pulled away. “You know, I’m starving. Do you mind if I go to the kitchen to break my fast?”
“Of course, I’ll walk with you.” He kept his hand on Julius’s shoulder. “So, where’s the girl?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” Julius coughed again. “I, uh, I haven’t found her yet.” He glanced at Christos. “I’ll head back out as soon as I have something to eat. If that is your wish.”
“Of course, my friend.” Christos smiled, giving Julius a hearty slap on the back. “Enjoy your breakfast, so that you will replenish your strength for your search.”
Chapter 28
Christos leaned on the railing of the atrium, waiting for Julius to finish his breakfast. Just as Julius was leaving the kitchen, he made a point of stretching and yawning.
“Did you not sleep well?” Julius asked him.
“No, I didn’t. Too much excitement last night. I do believe a nap may be in order.” He gestured toward the door. “Are you going back out to look for the slave?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I thought I’d do, unless you’ve changed your mind.”
Christos rubbed his eyes. “Of course not. The girl’s much too arrogant to think she can escape. She thought too highly of herself all along, didn’t she? Do me a favor and bring her back in one piece so I can give her a sound lashing.”
“I’ll do as you wish,” Julius replied, with a low bow, taking his leave.
A few moments later a heavy sigh escaped Christos as he ventured into the street. He caught sight of Julius’s bulky form, rounding a corner. He hurried to catch up, careful to keep out of sight.
What evil had driven this man to betray his trust? How could this person he called friend, the man whose very life he had saved innumerable times on the battlefield, kidnap Valerie?
By the gods, if he harms her, I will send him to Pluto myself.
He kept his hand on the hilt of his sword as he hurried through the city of the dead, his mind swirling with images of long, chestnut-brown hair and emerald-green eyes. Her beauty had haunted his dreams before he’d even met her. Was Valerie truly from the future? If so, how could he convince her to stay?
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