He walks away without saying another word. I watch after him, wondering if he is correct at the same time knowing that he is. Clearing my throat, I turn and make my way inside. My new prison, my own home. It is this way from my own doing and I am okay with that, for now.
Making my way toward the baths, I decide to wash the sweat from my body before I eat my final meal. The guard standing beside the door jerks his chin.
“Is the room empty?” I ask him.
He nods his head. “Yes, Emperor. It is empty.”
“Send me a famulus and do not let anyone else enter,” I announce.
Usually, I would not mind who comes and goes. However, since Drucilla is somewhere in the domum, I do not want to chance running into her anywhere. Walking into the baths, I disrobe, though typically I would wait for my famulus, as is the custom for my position. I do not feel the need today.
She arrives, her head tipped, her dark hair arranged on her head, simple yet pretty. When she stops in front of me, she disrobes herself. I watch as her flesh is revealed to me. She is like all the other famulus who are used for this, thin and young.
“Look up at me,” I demand.
She does, her big brown eyes wide as she takes my face in. I frighten her. I know that I do. I am a monster, after all, or at least I appear to be one.
“Do I frighten you?” I ask.
Her eyes widen and she shakes her head, but it is too late, I know that I do indeed frighten her. It is okay, it is who I am now, who I have been for a decade.
“Knees,” I grunt.
She does as she’s told and sinks down to her knees. Then she does as she is useful for before she bathes me.
DRUCILLA
“What is your name?” I ask my dining partner.
He jerks his head, his gaze finding mine as his eyes widen. “Tiberius,” he lies.
I arch a brow, and know that his voice does not match the one in my bed that said my name, that growled it when he was deep inside of me. This man can also speak my language and Tiberius, my warrior, cannot.
“So, it was you in my bed last night?” I ask, being completely forthright.
He clears his throat and squirms in his seat a bit. Leaning forward, I open my mouth to say something when I hear Cassia’s voice. I cannot understand her, but she is talking to Tiberius—who is not actually Tiberius.
“Cassia would like to know if you want to go into the gardens with her this evening before the sun has completely set,” he says, changing the conversation.
He can attempt to change it all he wants, but I already know the truth of it. He is not the man in my bed and I wonder if this is the emperor or if the man in the bed is. Then, my heart starts to race at the thought of this man and what will happen to me if I’m sleeping with the wrong one.
I don’t really know what’s going on here, and I’m really unsure of why I’m sleeping with anyone, but it feels good and right and I just tell myself that I’m here for a reason, whatever that is and that my sisters should be popping up any second to explain everything to me.
I tell myself all of these things, but I don’t know if they are real. If I am just talking myself into justifying being a ho or what. It’s probably that, I mean, I’m all about having someone pretty at my back and in my bed. Tiberius, the real one, his body is freaking gorgeous, and the way he feels—amazing. Though, I’m a bit disappointed that I haven’t seen his face yet.
“I would,” I say with a smile.
“She said she would like to have your famulus go with you as a translator.”
“I would like that very much,” I say with a sigh of relief.
I want to ask her about this guy next to me and about the real Tiberius. I also want to ask her if she knows how I got here, why I am here, and why nobody seems surprised to see me, knowing that it’s obvious I am not of this land.
I don’t think Cassia would lie to me, but then again, I don’t know these people.
We finish eating and I moan at the taste of all the fresh food. I don’t miss the processed shit from home, not an ounce. The honey makes the fruit amazing, the veggies are crisp and fresh, even the meat is all amazing. It would be nice if the fruit and veggies were cold instead of room temperature, but I decide not to be overly picky, at least not with this.
Once we’re all finished, the music starts up again and I realize that last night was nothing special. This is what they do every night. They eat, drink wine, and dance. It’s a freaking party every night, it’s like Cancun during spring break… well, almost.
Cassia hands me a wine goblet and I happily take it. She slips her arm in mine and just before we are outside, Laurentia appears one step behind me, but at my side. As soon as she appears, Cassia begins to speak.
“She would like to know how you are enjoying your stay here. As Tiberius’ cousin, she has the ability to make you more comfortable if you should wish to be.”
Looking at Cassia, I can’t help but smile. Cousin. Nice. Shifting my gaze to Laurentia, I shake my head once. “I am very comfortable,” I say.
“She would like to know if you have any questions that she is able to answer. She is upset that you do not speak the same language as she thinks you look kind and would like to get to know
