𝑉𝐴𝐸 𝑉𝐼𝐶𝑇𝐼𝑆 𓇽 Lᴜᴄɪᴜs Vᴇʀᴜs Aᴜʀᴇʟɪᴜs

II

Silvana wallowed in her chambers, pining over her interaction with Hano and how he would likely be killed in the arena. She worried that Geta would be jealous of her interaction with him. Although there was nothing to be jealous of. They have barely spoken ten words to each other but she can spare no thought of him.

Silvana turned quickly as she heard a knock at the door. She quickly hid her books under the bed and tucked them away.

"Enter." She commanded.

"My love?"
"Oh, my Emperor I wasn't expecting you this evening. I was beginning to worry you thought I was infatuated with the poet Gladiator." She replied nervously.
"Of course not-" he made his way over to her and gripped her jaw. "You belong to me, Silvana. But-" he gripped harder "-you must remember this or I will make him kill you in the arena and feed you to my lions." She nodded furiously and he let her go.

Geta started kissing down her jaw and caressing her legs. She couldn't help herself but to succumb as she had been so recently...frustrated between her legs.
Geta wasn't a great lover but as she was making love to him, she was thinking of Hano and everything she'd let him do to her in every way.

She imagined him running his large hands over her curves, lingering over her sensitive spots and kissing her breasts. It sent sparks up her spine just to imagine it. Geta was feeling accomplished as they both finished, not knowing what was really happening in the moment.

They both fell asleep wrapped up in each other, Silvana forgetting completely about the threats the emperor had made towards her.

Hano had just finished training. He ached and winced as he lay in his cell.

As he closed his eyes he ran his hands over the favour Silvana had given him.
"Silvana.." he whispered, the name feathered so softly off his tongue as it was made only for him to speak.

As he ran his fingers over the stitching he felt some words. They read:

Nisi mi gladiatorem meum

Save me my Gladiator.

He scrunched the handkerchief in his fist and sighed. There was nothing he could do. He didn't want her. He had to tell himself he didn't want her or he'd loose himself forever.

"Hurry it up!"

The guard nagged Hano as he pulled on his armour and grabbed his sword.
He made his was to breakfast and sat down with his fellow Gladiators.

"How about that favour from Lady Silvana hmm monkey boy?" Giaus laughed as he elbowed him.

"Yeah I reckon he keeps it down his loin cloth!" Another one commented. Everyone roared with laughter as did Hano.

"She means nothing to me. Another Roman whore to serve the Emperors. That's all." They all shrugged and went back to eating. His face was completely emotionless the rest of breakfast and he didn't engage in any more conversation. He was ready for his next battle in the arena.

The gate slowly rose and all the Gladiators jogged out into the open. The crowd roared and chanted Hano's name as he entered. His eyes immediately focused on the Royal box and its inhabitants. He noticed Caracalla, Geta, Macrinus and Acasius but no sign of Lucila or Silvana.

A few moments later Lucila was taken to her seat by the Pretorian guard and Silvana was shoved onto Geta's lap. She smiled at Geta as he snaked his lanky arms around her small waist. She whispered in his ear and they both laughed. A pang of anxiety hit his chest but his face showed no emotion. She knew what she was doing and it wasn't going to work.

Silvana saw out of the corner of her eye, Hano clenching his fist and jaw. Hiding his face from her. She smiled proudly and wrapped her arms further around Geta's neck. He was happy she was finally giving in to his warm affection.

Hano shouted towards his teammates "Row!" As they face the guards in a ship in the arena. Below them were shark infested waters and he knew the only way out was with wit and brute force. Much like any of the other games.

During the whole battle, Hano could see what Silvana was doing. She was all over the Emperor and he was sick of it. In the heat of battle, he picked up a crossbow and aimed it at her head. This shocked Silvana and she immediately let go of Geta. Hano and Silvana made pure, biblical eye contact and it was as if their souls connected.

A guard had pushed Hano down and accidentally fired the crossbow which landed right between Geta and Caracalla. Geta snatched Silvana and she turned to look at Hano but he was still fighting. Everyone fleed the Royal Box and the Gladiators were returned to their cells.

"Now-"

Emperor Geta began as he held Silvana's wrists above her head and pushed her against a column. She whimpered.

"What did I tell you about that poet? I knew what you were doing...Whore! Trying to make him jealous?? Do you remember what I told you?!" Geta was out of his mind. Silvana needed to try anything to break him out of his mad outburst.

"Geta-" he immediately let go of her wrists and stepped back. She never called him by his name.
"I was merely trying to show him that I belong to you. He is clearly infatuated with me and he needs to understand that I am your Empress..." Silvana stroked the Emperor's face and he sighed.

"I know, I should have trusted you. I cannot blame him for you are the most gorgeous creature any man or woman can bestow their eyes upon."

"Thank you, my Emperor." Silvana started to leave the room but Geta grabbed her wrist-

"No! Don't go-"

"Please, my Emperor I am weary and tired from today's games. Let me rest tonight." She gave him a polite kiss on the lips and turned back to her quarters.

Clever. Very clever. Geta thought.