Liviana's eyes ached with terrible pain. In the inner court of the temple house where her private bed chamber is, screams of intense fury is heard. The temple maidens gathered at the entrance to the passageway that leads to her chamber not willing to go closer and be at the receiving end of her sudden anger. The woman can be mean at the slightest provocation. Many temple maidens and slaves have died at her hands in moments like this. One will think that as a High Priestess, she'll at least be a little approachable and less mean. But no. The devil seems to be her only ally.
Inside her bedchamber, Liviana swept the bottles of perfume on her bedside table to the floor. Still not pacified, she lifts a footstool by the foot of her bed and hurled it at the wall opposite her, leaving a crack on the ¹fresco covered wall of naked men writhing in carnal pleasure with spirit maidens. Shards of glasses spread across the mosaic tiles. Expensive perfumes gifted to her by many of the temple devotees wasted in a moment fury. The beast in her is not yet sated as she can still taste the bloodlust in her mouth. Not minding the shards on the floor, she opened the door and walked out. The maidens scampered off, running to hide from her.
"Portia!" she bellowed, walking towards the communal courts.
The young girl appeared, head down, masking her fear. "You called, Mistress."
"Send three of the young palace servants to my bathing chamber without delay," she ordered, her eyes glowing ruby red.
"I shall do as you..." Portia stuttered to a stop as her mistress has already walked off not sparing her a second glance. She knows what occurs during the bathing seasons especially when her mistress returns with such intense anger. The woman is going to feed to sate her fury. For the six years she has served the high priestess as the head maiden in the temple, there are always bodies to bury after her bouts of fury – or rather baths of erotic fury. Sighing in relief at her departing oppressive presence, she hastens her steps to the servant quarters to do her bidding. She feels grief for the maiden doomed to meet ²Hades today. As she walked into the servant quarters, silence fell over the room as the chattering voices stopped.
"Aria, Herminia, Fausta, mistress needs you in her bath chamber now," Portia instructed, pointing out three maidens.
Aria burst into tears, clutching Portia's temple tunic in panic. "Please, Head maiden Portia, do not send me to mistress. Give me another duty. Tell me to scrub the temple floors, or wash the cooking pots and utensils by myself alone - anything but this," she cried widely.
"Be quiet, Aria! It is decided unless you want Mistress to send you to the cave of Haddon. Which do you prefer? It is an honour to serve high priestess in her bath chamber. You should be glad that you are chosen," Portia rebuked sharply. "Dry your tears and be obedient." Turning to the other two servants standing quietly by her side, she admonished, "You have served the mistress before. Aria is young and new. Let her bath the back of mistress only whilst you two handle her other needs."
"Yes, head maiden," they chorused.
"Now go! You don't want to make her wait."
'Before her wickedness decides a crueller fate than what is already ordered.' Portia swallowed the remaining words as the three maidens scurried from the room. Weight of duty hung on her shoulders like a heavy sack. Working in the temple is not all that bad considering the carnal pleasures she gains from temple devotees and worshippers. The gifts were also a consolation especially if they weren't ones coveted by the almighty high Priestess. However, when faced with duties as this and satisfying Priestess Liviana's unpredictable and unfeeling demands, it is like a journey through hades itself.
Portia quickened her pace after the chosen servants. She found them standing before the door to the private bath chamber looking lost. She gave the two older servants a hard glare for stalling when they know how much their mistress hated being kept waiting. Knowing that the Priestess is expecting them, she knocked softly and opened the door.
Scented incense filled the chamber, bathing it in smoke. The servants followed her in and began to strip themselves bare. Their firm fair breast revealed to the eyes of the Priestess, who reclined in the huge bath in her naked glory. Aria, still unsure of what was expected subtly placed her two hands over her hidden woman part trying to cover what she can. Noticing her actions, the Priestess fixed her gaze on her.
"Mistress, I bring you the young servants," Portia announced, pushing the young maidens further into the bath chamber.
"You may leave, Portia. I do not wish to be disturbed till my bath is done." she dismissed.
"As you command, Mistress." Portia bowed and left the room. Relief washed over her as she is glad to have been saved from witnessing today's episode.
In the bath chamber, the three servants climbed into the bath. In silent subservience, they picked up the washcloth and took their positions, Aria to the back and Herminia to the side. Fausta, the bolder of them stood in front of the Priestess.
"We are very honoured to give you pleasure, Mistress," Fausta bowed before she raised her hands to the Priestess bosom, rubbing the wet clothes around her slightly sagging breast. Taking that as a sign to begin, Aria and Herminia did the same, rubbing the wet clothes on their mistress body from where they stood.
Liviana's face showed no emotion. She raised her hands, stopping Fausta from continuing with her ministrations. Looking slightly confused, She dropped her hands, waiting for her commands.
"Wash my rear. Let the young one stand before me."
Aria's face failed. ³'Salvum me Iuno, o mater, deorum' she cried within her, terrified.
A flash of envy passed through Fausta's eyes at being dismissed for another. She has served the mistress once and she was praised for the ministrations at that time. Something the Priestess rarely does. Masking her bitterness, she replied, "As you command, Mistress."
Unfortunately, Liviana glimpsed her bitterness but her face remained impassive. 'Who does this servant think she is to feel envious? she sneered in her heart. 'She chooses who gives or takes pleasure from her, just as she decides when and who she disposes of. Just because she is named Fausta, she thinks she's lucky, huh? Well, Liviana does not believe in luck. She decides the fate of lives under her!' A dark glint flashed through her features.
Aria quivered with dread as she stood before their mistress. Liviana ran her thin fingers along her soft jaw.
"You are new. What's your name?" Liviana asked with her enchanted voice.
"Aria."
"It's beautiful. You're beautiful," She said, grabbing her fair breast not too gently. Aria breath hitched in pain. She heard from the other maidens that those the Priestess touches are not to show pain otherwise she will have them whipped to unconsciousness with the ⁴flagrum. She doesn't know the truth in that, but she wished not to be a victim. Aria endured the painful fondling on her soft bosom.
"Touch me," She commanded Aria whilst others touched her elsewhere. The other two servants seem to know what to do without being told. Fausta washed from the rear whilst Herminia went under the water between their mistress's legs.
Gingerly Aria placed her slender hands on Liviania's shoulder. Liviana placed her hands over Aria's and guided her hands to her bosom teaching her what to do while she moaned unashamedly. She brought the young maiden closer and kissed her roughly, biting down hard on her full lips. She tasted her blood and licked it furiously. This continued for a while as she held Aria in her embrace.
Suddenly she shoved her away. Aria lost her balance and fell to the side of the marble bath. In a blink of an eye, Liviana grabbed Fausta. Bringing her closer, she licked her neck where it connects to her shoulder blades. Fausta felt elated, thinking the mistress is displeased with Aria. The next second, she felt a piercing pain spread through her body from her neck and screamed. Liviana latched on to her neck whilst the girl struggled to get away from her strong grip. Herminia ignored the scream and continued with what she is doing. They were taught to act this way in the face of Liviana's evilness or lose their lives. In any case, one way or another, one still loses her life no matter which one decides. Their Mistress's unpredictable moods are like the rolling storms of the sea. No one can understand it.
Paralysed with fear, Aria stared wide eyes at the occurrence before her. She has not served the Priestess before and has never witnessed how the dead servants they often bring out from her chambers came about. When Fausta stopped struggling and twitching, Liviana threw the body aside and licked her bloodied lips. Fausta's lifeless eyes stared emptily towards the awning. The water in the bath turned dark with her blood reflecting the ruby redness of Liviana's eyes. Aria slumped into unconsciousness.
Footnotes:
1. Fresco: A type of wall painting done directly on the plaster of walls in ancient Roman.
2. Hades: the god of the underworld according to Greek mythology.
3. 'Salvum me Iuno, o mater, deorum': Save me, Juno, mother of the gods.
4.Flagrum: The scourging whip