“I haven’t, Mistress,” he tried to justify himself.
“Don’t talk back to me. You mean that it wasn’t you who came there to see who arrived? Unless I say so, nothing in this house concerns you. You mean nothing. You are nothing, you worthless little beast,” she said as the rage rose up in her heart.
Saul looked down, scared. Somehow, she was right; if he hadn’t peeked to see who had knocked at the door, Flaminia wouldn’t have asked him to come with them. On the other hand, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see Cassandra again.
He felt fought by the happiness of having seen Cassandra again and the guilt. He was thinking more about himself than being focused on serving his mistress.
“You are right, Mistress. I have misbehaved. I didn’t mean to, though. Please forgive me,” he said, avoiding her eyes.
“I am losing my patience with you. First, my husband, then my guest. Who do you think you are?”
“Nothing, Mistress. Please tell me how I should behave to please you, and I will,” he pleaded.
“I just wish you didn’t exist,” she said bitterly.
“But I do.”
“Indeed, if I weren’t sure that I would engage the rage of my husband, I would kill you right away to fix that small detail,” she said dryly.
Saul’s heartbeat seemed to stop for a long second leaving him breathless. Then, suddenly, it started racing like it wanted to leave Saul’s chest.
If Flavius didn’t return, it would mean his possible death.
“Mistress, forgive me, please.” His voice flickered in fright. She enjoyed the fright clear in his eyes, but it was true. If it were not for her husband, she would have rid herself of him.
She raised her hand to his face and caressed him. “You are beautiful, slave. At least I know why my husband prefers you to me.”
“Is this the reason for your rage? Is it jealousy?”
“And many other things.” Claudia sighed.
“I am nothing but a slave, Mistress. How can you be jealous of something as worthless as I am?”
“You do not get it, do you? No wonder. But soon you will, slave,” she said, turning her back to him and striding out of the room.
Tears of frustration and anger filled her eyes. Saul was considered more highly than her, not only by her husband, but by her guests as well, and what was worse— they were right.
She realized how beautiful and charismatic that little slave was. She could not avoid seeing him as a competitor to her beauty and to her place beside Flavius.
A dark pleasure pervaded her soul, in the wait for revenge, which will destroy him.
Chapter 16.
That night, Saul could not fall asleep. He thought about Flavius, Claudia, and Cassandra; he felt nervous and befuddled. He was not the only one.
Flavius also lay awake, thinking about home and his abduction. He heard the regular sound of his guard’s breathing, but Flavius knew he couldn’t escape. The heavy chain that tethered him to the wall clanked with every move he made. His kidnapping seemed absurd; something didn’t fit. Something bigger must be behind it. Not having enough pieces to complete the puzzle drove him crazy. He thought about being with Saul, caressing his soft hair, kissing his trembling lips, assuring him that he was only for him. He was his, and nobody else could have him. He realized he was crying; he was missing his freedom, and he was missing Saul.
Cassandra couldn’t sleep that night either. She wasn’t sure she did the right thing hiding Saul’s worries from her mistress. Remembering the evil light in Claudia’s eyes, she understood her love’s fear.
She was aware of the relationship that bonded Saul to his Master, and obviously, it made Claudia jealous.
If jealousy was the reason for Saul’s fear, she could become very dangerous, particularly as Flavius was away, late on his scheduled return.
She tossed in her bed, trying in vain to cast away those thoughts. Perhaps the gods wanted to warn her. Maybe they wanted her to warn her Master since he was also fond of Saul. “What should I do?” Cassandra whispered.
“About what?” Nana yawned from the bed near her.
“I am so sorry, Nana; did I wake you up?”
“Well, it is not difficult when you are sighing and turning around on your bed the entire night. Is something bothering you? Did something happen to you and Saul when you were there with Mistress Flaminia?”
Cassandra didn’t know what to say; she felt confused. “I don’t know, Nana. He was very strange; not toward me, but in general, like he was constantly afraid of something or someone.”
“Is this concerning Flavius?” Nana asked.
“No, it is about his new mistress. He is terrified of her, and I believe his fears are founded. Do you think I am overreacting?”
“I am afraid I can’t be of any consolation. If things really are so bad, Saul is in danger.”
“Flaminia asked me if I thought that Saul was somewhat strange. I didn’t tell her about his real fear. Did I do the right thing? Do you think I should talk to Marcus Tiberius about it? He holds Saul very dear, and if I can make him suspicious, maybe he would keep an eye on them. What do you think?”
“Maybe it is not the best idea. Think about it. If it is not so, you will face punishments. We are slaves. We can’t do anything.” Nana yawned.
Cassandra pondered what Nana had said. “Maybe you’re right. We all should be less suspicious and see what happens next. Goodnight, and thank you,” Cassandra sighed, turning onto her other side, fearing that she wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.
“Goodnight.”
The rest of the night and the following days went on without any particular event. Saul almost forgot his troubles, keeping out of Claudia’s sight and reach. His only concern was that Flavius was still away, and no news of him had come.
It was as if he’d faded into the night.
As Claudia’s mood became more unstable, Nara thought she seemed more restless than worried.
Nara entered Saul’s working room. “You have been closed in here for too long. I was supposed to take care of you, and I’m afraid I’ve let my duty slip to the side,” Nara apologized. “Mistress Claudia didn't allow me much free time to take care of you. Please don't tell Master Flavius.”
Saul smiled at him. “Well then, I think that there is nothing to do but take care of me.”
“I guess so. You look terrible. Come now, you are going to have a bath, then I will massage your body with oils. I will comb your hair and make you look like the god you are,” Nara proposed.
“I am not a god, particularly not a Roman one. Actually, the gods of the Romans hate me for some reason I can’t understand,” he replied, standing up.
“I tell you why they are angry; they are all jealous of your beauty. You can easily overshadow the beauty of Ganymede. It might be that Zeus is thinking to take you away,” Nara joked.
“There are no gods for slaves like us. We are worthless things, and no one cares, not even them. Not my God, not yours, and not the Roman’s gods,” Saul replied hopelessly.
Nara came closer and smoothed his hair behind his shoulder. “Don’t say that; there is always a god for each of us. Perhaps your God wants you to be more faithful.”
Saul thought about what he said and what his father had told him about God; maybe Nara had a point. Maybe it was really so that everything was going bad because he lost his faith.
He turned his gaze to his friend. “Well, let’s not think about it. Let’s go. I think I need to rest a bit and have you take care of me.” He changed the topic. “Don’t you find it strange that Flavius hasn’t returned yet? What if something happened to him?”