Chapter 5: Chapter V
Mira moved through the villa in the dead of night. In her hand was a small worn wineskin with a brew freshly cooked by the kitchen staff.
Slipping down to the wine cellar, through the gate into the bowels of the Ludus, there she whispered for Khalos though he did not wake. It had been 21 days fucking and fighting and 21 nights of bloody life and death battles.
Khalos had never expected the sweet paradox of his existence. His patrons were well satisfied only leading to a higher demand of him. Coupled with Baitaitus's private, by appointment only, showing of him, added to the demand amongst the Roman women.
Opening the wineskin, Mira reached through the cage and poured a bit in his mouth, waking him up.
He then tasted a familiar drink though a lot sweeter than the materials of his past life. Khalos took the wineskin into his hands and drunk every drop. A moment later, light drunkenness came over him, and his body cooled.
Mira looked on with terrified eyes. "You are okay?"
"As I told you, I would be," he replied.
"That potion had hemlock in it." her voice cracked.
"It's not a potion, Mira," Khalos sighed as he told her for the hundredth time. With the intensity of the pits and his daily activities. Khalos had Ashur fetch herbs and roots. Mira took them to the kitchen and cooked them to Khalos' instructions.
In his body now was undoubtedly the most potent supplement of the 22nd century before the creation of Radiotide Mutagens. Healing, strengthen, and providing energy all at once. This supplement was refined during the height of the Eastern Ressurection. Folk medicine of fabled immortals became the foundation of a new world of performance supplements.
Khalos's body was alive and bursting at the seams. The hemlock stimulated his mind, and sleep evaded him.
"Tell me of the happenings in the villa," Khalos spoke in a low tone.
"Dominus moves towards securing the games of the magistrate. Outside his chambers, servants hear that Dominus is clearing substantial portions of his debt thanks to the combined efforts of you and Crixus. House Batiatus is the most sought-after for private gatherings. " Mira told him.
The room went silent after she finished speaking.
She then asked, "Why must you go to the pits? People say it's where gladiators go to die. You swore you would show me a better life. How can you do that if you're dead?"
Khalos sighed. "You will never understand the things that go on in my mind. Calm yourself, woman. I will not die anytime soon. You must calm yourself. When the odds become too high in my favor, Dominus will no longer indulge my need for the pits. When a substantial amount of coin has been made, he will no longer consider sending my brothers there. Just make more of the brew and have it ready for me. I must prepare. Leave me."
The surrounding gladiators who listened in the night applauded Khalos. His continued sacrifice warmed the hearts, and all wished to see him die in the arena with honor before the pits took him.
Khalos could not sleep for the rest of the night, but his body was a lot healthier than before.
When morning came, Khalos practiced among his brothers, and the effect of the supplement was apparent. It was an excellent reprieve to train like a normal gladiator. Talk of Spartacus was finally dying down, and requests followed the talk to the grave.
After another week, Khalos enjoyed his day and went to the pits in the night. But his days at work were not wasted as Khalos had begun to see fruits of his labor. The supplements made up for the like of nutrients and turned his body into soft hot metal. His daily hard work became the hammer, forging him into a weapon.
"Good Khalos, Letters from friends." Said Ashur.
"Thank you. Have you spoke to the Medicus yet?" Khalos asked as he tucked the letters away.
"He says you can have one night, two days from now. He goes whoring, and his space is yours to use." Ashur assured him.
"Good, I need these materials before then. And the remaining coin is to be spent on whores and wine for everyone. Use the serpent-like tongue of yours to make it happen." Khalos ordered.
Ashur had become a whipped dog. Though Khalos remained vigilant around the mut. But for now, as long as Khalos held his crimes overhead, the man would be docile.
After Ashur left, Varro asked about the many letters exchanged over the week. Khalos nonchalantly explained that they were connections forged by his cock and unwillingness to die.
The daughter of a horse breeder at the edge of Capua, the Wife of a magistrate with love for Greece, and another daughter whose father is a centurion officer. And, of course, Ilithyia.
It had become a hobby of hers to request Khalos to fuck her servants. In the beginning, they were common slaves, then her body slave, Thelessa, was the only one being fucked until Ilithyia was finished pleasuring herself to the sight. Besides the escapades, Ilithyia and Khalos had not touched each other.
And whenever Ilithyia felt guilt about the things she desires from the Thracian, she tried to kill him by requesting his services and pitting him against soldiers or prisoners of war.
It was two hours past noon, and Khalos had a sword and shield fighting three men in the middle of Ilithyia's villa as she drank wine and ate fruits. The bitch was crazy. But she gave coin, and Batiatus cared not.
When Khalos was finished killing his opponents, Ilithyia felt bad and told him to sit.
Ilithyia looked as if she had something caught in her throat. " Apologies." she finally said.
Khalos almost fell into laughter, "What was it this time, Ilyithyia? Did you think of me too often? Wish you were a slave so that you can fill my cock inside of you without worry. What moved you to act out?"
Ilithyia cleared her throat. " We can not all be as bold as Aemilia."
"Aemilia? The wife of Magistrate Sextus?" Khalos asked. "I didn't know you knew each other."
"Imagine my surprise when I discovered how well you two knew each other," said Ilythia.
"Ahh, so it was jealousy that moved you to such actions. Why do you do this? Why not give in to your desires and be done with me? You risk offense with your husband and grow jealous of your friends because they do what you will not. If that is all you request of me tonight, I will inform my dominus that your request has been completed." Khalos moved to leave.
Ilithyia reached out but pulled back.
Khalos scoffed, "You don't even dare to touch me. I always wanted to ask you how it felt to live vicariously through your body slave."
Khalos's words hit Iliythia hard. It made her stomach churn. A great roman woman with envy towards a slave. She snapped, " Fuck you, Thracian! You son of a fucking whore!"
Khalos stops and looks over his shoulds to see a fuming Ilithyia. She does nothing but stare. Khalos shakes his head with a sigh. "I'm yours to take if you wish, coward."
Khalos then left the villa to meet Batiatus, who was waiting outside per Ilythia's request.
"I trust all is well?" Batiatus asked as Khalos walked out.
"Yes, Dominus...Small quarrel."
Batiatus laughed. "I bet her cunt has teeth and roars when excited."
"I'm sure it does. I think she's even madder than I."
Baitiatus and Khalos laughed together as they entered the carriage and made their way back to the Ludus.
In Ilithyia's villa, she flew into a rage as her slaves scrabbled to keep up with her destruction. When she finished, Ilithyia simply said, "I will kill him and cut his cock from his body! And I will see those whores suffer!"
"Domina, please calm down," Thalessa begged.
"Pack my things. We go to my father tonight."
"Is that wise, Domina?"
"No... But I know what is." Ilithyia smirked and left her slaves to clean the destroyed chamber.
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"The odds are ever in your favor, and they continue to grow." Said Batiatus, "After tonight, you are finished with the pits. And when we are invited to the games of the magistrate, I will see you properly rewarded for your efforts."
"Thank you, Dominus," replied Khalos. " May I inquire about the games?"
Batiatus waved a hand.
"It is about the primus. Who will take such a lofty position?"
"Most likely that cockless Solonious. He has the magistrate's ear." Batiatus replied.
Words that brought Khalos great joy. "And my wife? Is there any news?"
"None of late. When her ship makes port, we will know where she is," said Batiatus.
"If I may be so bold, Dominus. The Ludus is no place for a husband and wife. We will be apart. We will not share quarters. She will only be a distraction. I wonder what the price of her freedom will be?" Khalos asked.
Batiatus is a snake. He will seek profit wherever he could, and lately, the name 'Spartacus' was a hot commodity that brought house Batiatus wealth.
Batiatus hummed. "locating, spies, information, acquisition. I would say seventy denari."
Khalos laughed internally. "Dominus is truly a generous man. I'll have Ashur transfer my winnings for my wife's freedom."
"What?" Batiatus was startled.
Khalos acted like a naive man as he explained that he acquired a large sum by gambling. A sum that he wanted to use for his wife's freedom.
Batiatus was speechless. He simply told Khalos that he would speak to Ashur about the matter.
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Back at the Ludus, Khalos had gone through evening training with his brother gladiators. They had all felt bad about not being able to repay Khalos' sacrifices.
However, tonight he then eased their souls when Khalos requested a few herbs. He mixed them and waited. The next morning, Khalos was vomiting and had uncontrollable shits.
He was put under the care of the Medicus, who had no idea how to treat him.
Meanwhile, in the Villa, Batiatus reprimanded Ashur for not informing him about Spartacus' growing wealth.
Ashur assured Batiatus that he could fix the numbers. But it would require Batiatus to allow whores and wine to flow freely in the Ludus on Spartacus' coin.
There was enough trust between Batiatus and Ashur that Batiatus allowed the man to work. When Ashur left to plan for the festivities. Batiatus was left to contemplate the matter of freedom for Khalos' wife.
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Two days and nights had passed quickly. The whores that were promised had finally come with vases of wine.
While the Ludus fucked and partied. Khalos rose from his sickbed and closed the door to the medical room. He then prepared his station when a knock on the door stole his attention.
Opening the door, he quickly let Mira in and took the cloth sack that she was carrying.
"What are you going to do with all of that?" she asked as Khalos organized the ingredients ranging from herbs and roots to animal parts. "Are you some sort of sorcerer?"
"Nothing of the sort?" Khalos replied, "I'm simply touched by the Gods. Gifted with knowledge of life."
Khalos' hands moved seamlessly as he worked his materials and concocted a primitive version of a 22nd-century nootropic that increased blood flow to the brain and decompresses the body.
"Have you ever seen a vase fall, but your body momentarily stopped before catching up with your mind?" Khalos asked. "Well, this will help your mind free your body."
"This is sorcery," said Mira.
"It is science." Khalos corrected her. "Pour that the liquid in that pot through that filtered jar."
As the night went on, Mira and Khalos continued with their concocting.
"Mira..." Khalos called.
"Hmm?" she answered.
"Who were you before you were a slave?" Khalos asked, shocking Mira with his question
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