Skaia (50 page)

Skaia nodded. He’d heard it often enough now that he believed it. “What happened to Thane, Master?”

“
Ask Thaddeus.”

“
Yes, sir.” Skaia’s voice was resigned; he knew he would never ask such a thing. He helped Paulinus into the bed, rubbed the old master’s fingers when they seemed restless, and then covered him with the sheet and a thin blanket. “Shall I have Gotus sent to you, sir?”

“
No. I’m fine. I just need to rest. Go to Thaddeus now. And Skaia…” He hesitated until the boy met his eyes. “Be happy, Skaia.”

What a strange thing to say…
“Yes, Master Paulinus. I will.”

Paulinus closed his eyes, effectively dismissing the slave.

Thaddeus was still un-wrapping the small gifts from Glaucus when Skaia got back to his rooms. He glanced up with a questioning look on his face. “That took a very long time.”

“
I cleaned Master Paulinus’ room, sir. And I stayed to talk with him until he was settled, and ready to sleep.”

“
What did he have to say?” Thaddeus asked as he un-wrapped a small statue.

Skaia hesitated only a moment before telling the truth. “He said I should lie about what I was thinking, if you asked me again.”

Thaddeus’ hands stopped, his fingers gripping the next unopened gift tightly.
Gods—Father still tries to protect the slave from me.
“So, what were you thinking?”

This time, Skaia could not bring himself to be totally honest. “That perhaps I didn’t know Glaucus as well as I thought. That perhaps, he doesn’t care for me after all.”

“
Why would you think that?”

You know,
Skaia wanted to scream. But he answered simply enough. “In his letter, he only hoped I served you… And he never knew my birthday.”

Ah, so he did hear my comments, and they made him reflect, as I’d hoped…
“Yet, you still want to go back to him?” Thaddeus asked, unwrapping what he held.

“
I don’t know any more, sir.”
I really don’t.
“I… I realize now, that I was as much a slave to him, as I am to you.”

Not so much,
Thaddeus thought as he quickly tucked the small scroll intended for Skaia inside his desk.
But if Skaia is releasing his expectations, I certainly will not prevent it.
“I hope my son has become less fond of you while he is away.”

Skaia flinched at the words. But it wasn’t as if he hadn’t always known that was Thaddeus’ goal. “Master Paulinus said Glaucus liked me when he was a boy. Did… did you think so too, sir?” he asked.

Thaddeus sat back in his chair. “We’ve discussed this before, Skaia,” he said irritably. “Father and I both thought so. I should have put an end to it before it ever got beyond two children playing make-believe.”
I should have stopped those games as well,
Thaddeus thought bitterly. “Come to me.”

When Skaia was close, Thaddeus pulled him onto his lap. “I have wanted to destroy Glaucus’ affections for you. At first, only because I feared that his fondness for a slave would distract him from his duties. And bring ridicule on our family. But now…” He nibbled at the boy’s neck, “Now… because I want you as well.”

He twisted Skaia’s head so he could see the boy’s face. “I think both goals may be accomplished, if we share you. It would be fairly unusual in a private household, but fathers and sons often share the same whores when they visit brothels together.”

Skaia turned his head away and shut his eyes. For him, that would be the worst of all possibilities. He wanted to belong to someone. Some,
one
. He wanted to be loved—and to love in return. “Do my feelings have nothing to do with it?” he asked, his voice shaking with dismay.

Thaddeus recognized Skaia’s uncertainty. “No. Absolutely none,” he answered. “But why would you object? We both treat you well, do we not?”

As a slave,
Skaia thought.
That’s all I am to you… Just a slave.
“I have not lost all my pride, sir,” he whispered. “I do not want to be a whore to you and your son.”

“
Whore, Skaia? To serve your masters?”

Skaia shook his head.
How can he not understand?
“If I accept this, I have no honor.”

“
And what honor do you think you have left, Skaia?” Thaddeus spat sarcastically.

Skaia’s eyes clouded with tears, and he stood abruptly. “None, I suppose. My only value is as a slave—in how well I serve you.”

As it should be,
Thaddeus thought.
But definitely not how it is.
“Sit back down,” he said sternly.

“
No.” Instead, Skaia stepped further away.

Thaddeus frowned at the audacity of such a response. “Don’t be a fool, Skaia,” he said harshly. “Do not disobey me.”

“
I will not sit on your lap,” Skaia said, refusing again.

Thaddeus’ face hardened. He could not—would not—tolerate such blatant disobedience. Not even from Skaia. “Then remove your tunic, and lean against the wall.”

Skaia hesitated. Obedience and submission had been ingrained in him for most of his life. It was almost automatic. But he was truly horrified at Thaddeus’ suggestion for his future.
I can’t…
“No!”  

He turned and left the room, running as soon as he was out of the door.

Thaddeus continued to just sit for several moments, hardly believing what Skaia had just done. The boy had never outright defied him before.
What in Hades was wrong with him now?

Eventually, Thaddeus got up to follow, thinking the slave would be just outside the room. Probably kneeling and anxious to apologize.

But Skaia had disappeared.

Thaddeus went upstairs first and checked out the new slaves’ quarters. He asked the other slaves if they’d seen Skaia, and Aulus sat up to answer that he’d not been there. Thaddeus next searched Glaucus’ new rooms, but still there was no sign of the boy.

When he came downstairs again, he looked through all the gardens and the public rooms. He even checked his father’s room, without success.

Growing fearful, he went toward the front gate.
Oh, Skaia,
he almost groaned.
You’ve finally done it. You’ve killed yourself.
But the slave chained to the gate was sitting quietly, leaning against the bulk of a large dog that lay peacefully beside him… until the animal suddenly sensed Thaddeus’ presence. It stood in a flash, its hackles rising as a deep growl issued from its chest. The slave, too, was up instantly, his hand reaching for the bell pull that would alert the household to danger.

“
No, Rafius,” Thaddeus called out. “It’s me. There is no cause for alarm.” As Rafius began calming the dog, Thaddeus asked in a quieter voice, “Have you seen my slave?”

“
No, Master. No one has been here, sir. The house is safe.”

Thaddeus turned his back without a word and headed to the kitchen. From there he went outside the door and into the small area that housed the sewer opening. No, Skaia could not climb the wall, he decided quickly. And the sewer itself could provide no escape. The water ran far too fast.

Returning to the kitchen, Thaddeus stood quietly and tried to think of where else to look. He felt fairly sure that Skaia had not left the household—had not actually run away.
He won’t have to die—if I can just find him.

“
You little fool,” he mumbled aloud as he immediately thought of the old slave chambers. Quickly lighting a torch, he started down the stairs.

The first four rooms were empty, and Thaddeus began to despair again. If Skaia had left the house, he might very well be captured by some group of hooligans. Or by the city guards. Thaddeus wasn’t sure which was worse. But both would end in Skaia’s death.

Holding his breath, he looked in the last room. To his immense relief, and utter fury, he finally found Skaia—huddled in the far corner.

“
What a very strange place to run,” Thaddeus got out calmly. “Did you really think no one would find you here?”

Skaia wrapped his arms tighter around his knees. “I… I hoped no one would look.”
Why didn’t I run far away from here… or die in the sewer?

Thaddeus stepped into the room and stared down at Skaia for a few moments in silence. There was a part of him that regretted pushing the boy into this. But far more, he was furious at Skaia’s irrational defiance. “Get up,” he snapped.

Standing shakily, Skaia stood and stepped toward him. “What will you do to me?” he asked in a small voice.

“
I should kill you,” Thaddeus replied angrily. “It’s certainly what you deserve.”
Even my father would agree this time!
“Follow me,” he demanded as he left the small, dark room.

Skaia felt numb as he watched Thaddeus walk away and start up the stairs. He forced himself to follow. By the time they reached the atrium, fear was pushing the numbness aside, and he looked at the gates. Closed, of course. Guarded. Skaia wanted desperately to be away from this place, but even if he got out, there was nowhere to go.

This household is all I know.

There were no other choices for him to take. Resigned, he bowed his head again and continued to follow Thaddeus back to his rooms, fighting down the panic that was building inside, and trying not to think of what would happen next.

Closing the door to his chambers, Thaddeus filled his own cup from the amphora before turning to Skaia again. “Remove your clothes—all of them—and lean against the wall.”

Skaia did not hesitate. In a very real way, he knew that by not fleeing entirely, he had agreed to whatever Thaddeus demanded. Again, he had chosen to live, regardless of the consequences. He quickly removed all he wore and went to the wall, though he shivered as he lifted his arms to brace himself.

Thaddeus went for the strap… and almost set it aside. A scourging whip would be more appropriate for this infraction. At least a pronged multi corded one. Though he could not bear to think of Skaia’s body being literally stripped of flesh.

Sighing, he settled into a chair, and took the time to simply sip his wine leisurely. The slave, on the other hand, was growing more anxious as he waited. Occasionally, the muscles in his ass and legs would twitch, and Thaddeus found himself fascinated at the sight.

“
You deserve this, Skaia,” he whispered.

There was no response to his comment. Placing his cup down, Thaddeus stood, flexing his right arm and snapping the strap. Skaia stiffened at the sound, tensing his entire body, even rising on his toes.